David Robert Mullen
David Robert Mullen is an American artist and photographer. His art spans a wide range of styles from realist, to abstraction, to surrealist. David Mullen has practiced fine art photography for over 35 years. He views photography as a great printmaking art and has worked in black and white processes such as Van Dyke brown, platinum, silver gelatin and digital formats. For the last seventeen years, Mullen has dedicated his time to black and white and color photography as well as painting in water media such as watercolor, gouache, and acrylics. Mullen has won numerous awards for  his work. Philosophical beliefs. Mullen thinks a person has the right to their spiritual beliefs; he respects this, and believes there is something to glean from all peaceful points of view. Reflection of diverse philosophical viewpoints is to keep an open perspective of the world we live. In his still life portfolio of orchids and other floras’, his goal is to use the intense beauty found in the natural world as an expression of the effulgence that is seen in all things. David has deep feelings about what is going on in the world today and has a keen perspective  on religious intolerance, racism, genocide, war and selfish excesses. His recent ArtPrize entry entitled, “Post Modern Dark Ages,” is a black and white triptych of images depicting war, ‘the haves and have-nots,’ and a host of environmental consequences. It is a dark and somewhat humorous commentary. These particular pieces depict controversial personages, both historical and contemporary and the artist's intent is to leave the viewer to contemplate the world we live in. Jury Selections and Awards. 2010. Digital Prints, “San Miguel Good Friday 1”, “San Miguel Good Friday 2”, “Loretto Good Friday” and “Untitled” piece jury-selected for  2010 Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan. “San Miguel Good Friday 2” received the J. Russell Award for Photographic Excellence and “Loretto Good Friday” received the Bill Pieri Photography Award. 2003-2005. Jury-selected for the Ann Arbor, Michigan Art Fair and Ludington, Michigan Art Fair. Best of Show, Ludington Art Fair 2003 2001. Chromogenic prints, “Vanda” and “Vanda Mirror Pool,” jury-selected for 2001 Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both received Purchase Awards 1998. Paintings, “Canonization” and “Three Pears” jury-selected for 1998 Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Three Pears” received a Purchase Award  1997. Chromogenic print, “Tulips,” jury-selected for 1997 Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Winner of City of Grand Rapids Purchase Award 1996. Chromogenic floral, “Sunflower,” jury-selected for 1996 Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1995. Chromogenic floral still life jury-selected for 1995 Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1994. Chromogenic print, “Joshua Tree,” winner of Best Color Photography, 1994 Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1994. Hand-colored oil on silver print, “The Climb,” jury-selected for Battle Creek Fine Arts Center exhibit, Battle Creek, Michigan 1990-1993. Silver prints jury-selected for  Festival of the Arts ’90, ’91, ’92 and ‘93 1992. “The Climb,” Best of Show in county/regional photography exhibit at Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1984. “Ally 2,” silver print, selected Best of Show at 1984 Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan Exhibits. 2010. September 22 – October 10 - ArtPrize - Juried triptych of digital photography entitled “Post Modern Dark Ages” displayed at Riverview Center Professional Building, Grand Rapids, Michigan June – Four photography prints jury selected by Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts, Old Federal Building, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2007-2009. Studied digital photography and printmaking. Created portfolios  of architectural, Oaxacan, landscapes, abstracts, surrealism and floral art 2003-2005. Exhibited at juried fine art fairs throughout Michigan 2001. July – Exhibit of chromogenic photography, “Orchid Portfolio,” Good Goods Gallery, Saugatuck, Michigan June–July- Exhibit of chromogenic photography, Four Friends Coffeehouse, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1999. July- Exhibit of chromogenic photography in “Four Artists Celebrate the Fourth,” Good Goods Gallery, Saugatuck, Michigan May–June – “A Dance of Color and Light,” solo show at Frederik Meijer Garden, exhibiting Chromogenic floral prints; Grand Rapids, Michigan 1998. June – Featured artist at Grand Rapids Art Museum Retail Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1997. October – Featured artist , Gallery Walk, Good Goods Gallery, Saugatuck, Michigan October – November – Solo show at Frederick Meijer Garden, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1996. August – Three-person exhibit of fine art photography, Ten Weston Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan April – May Chromogenic florals (the “blooms in Nudes, Blooms…and All That Jazz”), San Chez, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1995. October – November – Chromogenic florals and silver print still life studies in “Shooting from the Rapids” photography exhibit, LaClaire Fine Arts Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1983. Solo show of silver prints, “Not Exactly the Blues” Ryerson Gallery, Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1982. Joint photography exhibit at  Ryerson Gallery, Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids, Michigan Collections. Warner, Norcross & Judd Corporate Collection, Grand Rapids, Michigan Haworth, Inc. Corporate Collection, Holland, Michigan Grand Rapids Community College Science and Technology Center Loyola University of Chicago, Illinois, Stritch School of Medicine Private collection of Dieter Noga, Hamburg, Germany Numerous private collections throughout the United States Publications. Article in Art Business News, “Trendsetters: Emerging Artists,” October 2001 Chromogenic floral, “Kind of Blue,” April 2001 cover of On The Town magazine, Grand Rapids, Michigan Chromogenic floral, “Vulcan World,” August 1998 cover of On The Town magazine, Grand Rapids, Michigan Chromogenic floral, “Gloxinia ,” August 1996 cover of On The Town magazine, Grand Rapids, Michigan Education. Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University