Paul Frank, Designer- “ Cody’s work seems original to me. The elements he chooses are unique. Cody is not trying to be like anyone else. Cody has potential. I hope others agree!”
Malcolm Warner, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum- "Though a skilled realist, he introduces abstract elements into his works to convey motion, depth, and emotion. At some level an homage to the canonical California splash paintings of David Hockney—though with a figure thrown in (perhaps literally)— What a Wonderful Splash shows his ability to capture a split second in paint."
CODY LUSBY
Lives and works in Long Beach, California
I am a contemporary visual artist devoted to creating artwork that deals with modern conceptual concerns, while also aspiring to change the world through local community action and developing large scale projects that enable viewers to feel more empowered.
As a fine artist I have had twelve solo shows and have been in countless group shows. The goal of my studio practice is to be conscious of my voice and talk about concepts that intrigue me. Staying relevant to the now, open to change, and evolving my work into the future contemporary. Always striving for an equal blend of conceptual and beautiful.
EDUCATION
2000 BFA, Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
1996 Orange County High School of the Arts, Los Alamitos, CA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Michael Stearns Studio, San Pedro, CA “Arid West”
2017 Vacant Gallery Space, Laguna Beach, CA “Water Wars Pop Up Show”
2016 Curbside Gallery, Santa Ana, CA “Water Wars”
2015 Curbside Gallery, Santa Ana, CA “Time Paradox”
2013 Design Matters, Los Angeles, CA “Goodbye Butterfly”
2012 Cannibal Flower, Los Angeles, CA “Featured Artist”
2012 Curbside Gallery, Santa Ana, CA “I Stole this Off Your Facebook”
2012 Design Matters, Los Angeles, CA “Building a Brick”
2011 Rothick Art Haus, Anaheim, CA “Tales from Skid Row”
2011 Curbside Gallery, Santa Ana, CA “Modern Romance and the Illusive Dream”
2010 Harvey’s, Los Angeles, CA “This Ain’t your Mama’s Mustache”
2009 Art From the Hive, Santa Ana, CA “Mustachio Rides Again”
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Brea Gallery, Brea, CA “Made in California”
2023 Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA “By Degrees”
2022 Billie Jean King Library, Long Beach, CA “Impermanence”
2021 LBCG Gallery, Long Beach, CA “Coming Together”
2020 Brea Gallery, Brea, CA “Made in California”
2020 Durden & Ray, Los Angeles County, CA “We are here/Here we are”
2019 Long Beach Creative Gallery, Long Beach, CA “7 Artists, 7 Visions”
2018 FRBA, Redondo Beach, CA “CA 101”
2018 Art Exchange, Long Beach, CA “Art in New Place”
2017 Gladys Artist Co-Op, Long Beach, CA “Winter Exhibitions”
2017 Magowski Art Complex, Fullerton, CA “Small but Mighty”
2016 DAC Gallery, Los Angeles, CA “Summer Group Exhibition”
2016 The Art Church, Los Angeles, CA “Cannibal Flower 15th Anniversary”
2015 PAS Gallery, Fullerton, CA “Sex, Violence and the American Way”
2015 The Gabba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA “Kool Layed”
2014 Curbside Gallery, Santa Ana, CA “Square 2”
2014 The Gabba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA “Face It”
2013 GR Works Gallery, Los Angeles, CA “Back Alley”
2013 Jeanie Madsen Gallery, Santa Monica, CA “Get Together”
2012 O’Neill, Santa Cruz, CA, “60 Years of Innovation Global Art Tour”
2012 AR4T, Laguna Beach, CA, “Elephant and Asses”
2011 Hold Up Art, Los Angeles CA, “Trash”
2011 LA Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles CA, “Beyond Eden”
2010 Eco-logical Art, Los Angeles, CA “Revisions/10”
2010 DDR Projects, Long Beach, CA “Looking into the Sun.”
AUCTIONS, BENEFITS AND FAIRS
2019-23 Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA “Art Auction XX”
2012-23 Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA “California Cool” Art Auction
2015-23 My Art Studio, Long Beach, CA “Long Beach Open Studio Tour”
2021 Polymer, Long Beach, CA “A Community Art Show”
2019 Barker Hanger, Santa Monica, CA “The Other Art Fair”
2019 Hurley International, Costa Mesa, CA “Creature Comforts: Benefit Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center”
NOTABLE PROJECTS
2019-Present Lead Artist, Roses for Rose Park an on going project where we reinforce community identity, meet our fellow residence and beautify our neighborhood by communally painting roses through-out historic Rose Park, Long Beach, CA.
2023-2024 Lead Artist and program designer for the Madison Park Mural Project. This year long stencil base community mural project was funded by the Creative Corps Grant we received from the California Arts Council and distributed by Arts LB. My nonprofit partners in this endeavor are GREEN-MPNA who are our hosts and connection to the neighborhood.
2022 Video watch, display and presentation of Bridging the Divide. Create a special night for people to come and see a movie and concept art that is talking about a response to the divisive world we are living in. This is an idea to visually display togetherness. Part of the We Rise LA “Bridging Wellness” campaign.
2020 Collaborative Artist with mosaic artist Dawn Mendelson, Friendship Corner Community Project and Mural at Dawson Lot, Cleaned, primed and Beautified a two hundred square foot wall with painted Multi-colored Roses and mosaic Flora/Fauna. 621 Dawson Ave, Long Beach, CA
2019 Artist, Metro Art Portrait Series: More People Than You Know. This rotating exhibition features portraits of patrons created by artists connected to the neighborhoods served by the A Line. The Artwork is displayed on digital screens in all stations along the corridor and featured on limited edition TAP cards.
PRIZES AND HONORS
2023 Grantee of the California Arts Council’s Creative Corps Grant
2023 Winner of the Neighborhood Grant Program funded by Community Development Block Grant, City of Long Beach
2022 Awarded Long Beach Professional Artist Fellowship
2022 Best of Long Beach (Artist Fine Art) LB Post Readers Choice
2021 Pabst Blue Ribbon Open Door Grant Winner
2019 Micro Grant from Long Beach Arts Council and The City of Long Beach
2010 Winner of the Harvey’s INTRO Art & Fashion Competition
1996 Winner of the Color It Orange Competition
PRINT, ARTICLES AND REVIEWS
“One of the city’s largest parklets gets the Long Beach mural treatment” by Asia Morris, The HI Lo, Long Beach Post, September 15th, 2020 https://lbpost.com/hi-lo/one-of-the-citys-largest-parklet-gets-the-long-beach-mural-treatment?fbclid=IwAR1p_7fbstvGnJDpKSkkPCT5lrkhfsu2a3WJzjKnt0ofhIoll282Cq-A4_s
“Book 12: 2020 #spare-a-square”, when toilet paper was seen as a rare commodity. Organized by Karrie Ross, 2020 https://www.artistartandstory.com/2020-book-12-spare-a-square/
LA Weekly, May 29, 2020 Shana NYS Dambrothttps://www.laweekly.com/book-pick-spare-a-square-for-arts-sake/
“The 7” The HI Lo, Long Beach Post, March 11th, 2020, by Asia Morris https://lbpost.com/hi-lo/things-to-do-in-long-beach-this-weekend-including-climate-elvis-thats-a-thing
“The 7” The HI Lo, Long Beach Post, October 3rd, 2019, by Asia Morris https://lbpost.com/hi-lo/the-7-things-to-do-in-long-beach-this-weekend-including-butterballs
“Studio Visit Magazine Vol 41” Studio Visit Magazine, 2018
“CA 101 Art Exhibition gets a global flavor in Redondo Beach”, by Michael Hixon,
The Beach Reporter May 30, 2018 https://tbrnews.com/entertainment/arts/ca-101-art-exhibition-gets-a-global-flavor-in-redondo-beach/article_1ab19b08-637a-11e8-b891-0ffbe2fc9232.html
“Venice Institute of Contemporary Art: 2017” by Juri Kroll, 2017
“Art interviews Cody Lusby”, by Noel Paris, Altamont Apparel May 8, 2013
“Cody Lusby uses tempo of the city to create mixed media art”, by Gary Booth, Long Beach Post April 12, 2013
“Glimpses of Cody Lusby, Our Mustache Wearing Friend” by Lauren Lloyd, LAist February 4, 2011
“Studio Visit with Mustachio”, by Lamia Larkin, Orange County Arts and Culture Magazine May 10, 2010
ART RELATED JOBS
2000-Present: Commission Artist, Long Beach, CA. Creating and developing artwork for clients such as Hurley, O’Neill, The Irvine Company, Lucille’s BBQ, Marriot and many individual clients.
2020-Present: Private Art Teacher, Long Beach, CA. Teaching private art lessons to adult students.
2017-2020: Art Teacher for Art Academics, Fullerton, CA. Taught art at an after school program for ages 6 to Adult. Dry media, water color, acrylic and oil paint.
2014: Preparator for ACE Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Prepared, cleaned and made ready the 3 city block-size art venues for shows. Hung, maintained, moved, packaged, delivered and shipped artwork. Amazing view behind the curtain of a blue chip gallery.
2009-2013: Independent Contracted Artist/Preparator/Muralist for Hurley International, Costa Mesa, CA. Prepared the H Space Gallery for shows. Assisted artist in making their dreams become reality. Purchased supplies, painted murals, built props, drove scissor lifts, hung artwork and made the artist comfortable producing a show in a large space.
2008-2009: Production Artist for A.R.T. Inc., San Juan Capistrano, CA. Created artwork and acrylic furniture for high-end homes and boutique hotels. Became proficient with power and hand tools. Learned how to work in-sink as a team.
2004-2008: Technical Advisor for Sterling Art Supply, Irvine, CA. Worked at an art supply store where I absorbed as much information about materials and techniques I could in a four year span.
2004-2008: Photographer Assistance for Murray Bognovitz Photography, Costa Mesa, CA. Assisted a fine art photographer with developing photos, painting backdrops and hanging shows. Learned how to be self driven and discipline.
2000-2001: Independent Contracted Muralist and Faux Finisher, Huntington Beach, CA. Painted Murals and Faux Finishes in residential and commercial businesses.
1998-1999: Artist and Prop Maker for Theme Warehouse, Carson, CA. Worked in to giant warehouses driving a small cart around refurbishing, painting and creating props for fancy expensive big themed events.