You can't be in Wichita long without seeing Steve Murillo's work. His murals, in both oil and ceramic, appear throughout the region, indoors and out, in private homes, schools, restaurants, corporate offices and public buildings. Not only is Murillo’s work ubiquitous; it is also enormous. A typical Murillo mural might cover a wall a hundred feet long. His studies for these monumental projects are lovely pastels, one of which appears in our current show.
Murillo's muse is classical, but his sensibility is pure 21st century. With a technique of layering image upon image—whether of historical figures, Botticelli-like angels, or classical architectural fragments—he seeks to convey the steady stream of visual messages that wash over us from moment to moment.
Steve Murillo earned both his BFA and MFA from Wichita State University, where he now serves as Adjunct Professor in the College of Fine Arts.
Exhibitions (selected)
| 1999 | Bright Stars on the Western
Horizon, The Dorothy Rogers Collection Online Directors Choice, CityArts, Wichita Black Velvet, CityArts, Wichita |
| 1998 | Artistas De La Aurora,
CityArts, Wichita Wichita State University Faculty Biennial, Ulrich Museum Art and Artifact: Work from the Collections of Artists, Butler County Community College, El Dorado, Kansas |
| 1997 | Hard Hat Party, CityArts,
Wichita Evo Gallery, Wichita |
| 1996 | Wichita State University
Faculty Biennial, Ulrich Museum Gender, Big Sky Heights, Wichita |
| 1991 | Invitational, Wichita Center for the Arts |
| 1986 | Recent Works, Century II, Wichita |
| 1983 | Althea Viafora Gallery Gallery Ives Arman, New York City |
| 1982 | Althea Viafora Gallery Gallery Ives Arman, New York City |
| 1981 | Althea Viafora Gallery Gallery Ives Arman, New York City |
| 1980 | Exposition '80, Pratt
Community College Competitive Exhibition, Pratt, Kansas Wichita Salutes Orleans, St. Pierre-le-Puellier Gothic Cathedral, Orleans, France Exhibition, Wichita Art Museum |
| 1979 | Wichita Salutes Orleans, St. Pierre-le-Puellier Gothic Cathedral, Orleans, France |
Commissions (selected)
| 1999 | Union Station, mural, Kansas
City, Missouri Collegiate School, mural, Wichita Hotel at Old Town, murals, Wichita, Kansas Sunflower Bank, mural, Wichita |
| 1998 | Japengo Restaurant, murals and
paintings, Kansas City, Missouri Olive Tree Restaurant, murals, Wichita Jaspers Restaurant, murals, Kansas City, Missouri |
| 1996 | Andover Middle School, murals, Andover, Kansas |
| 1995 | Olive Tree Restaurant, murals,
Wichita Larkspur Restaurant, murals, Wichita |
| 1994 | River City Brewery, mural,
Wichita Cowboy Club, sculpture project, Wichita |
| 1993 | River City Brewery, mural, Wichita |
| 1992 | Larkspur Restaurant, murals, Wichita |
Bibliography:
| "Artist Brings a Slice of the Big Apple to Kansas," The Wichita Eagle, Oct. 5, 1999 |
| "A Miraculous Transformation," Old Town Gazette, Wichita, February 1999 |
| "Artistas De La Aurora," Bud Norman, The Wichita Eagle, Nov. 1, 1998 |
| "Japengo is Sure to Pique Your Palate," Timothy Finn, Kansas City Star, May 22, 1998 |
| "Murals Spice Up Health-food Store," Diane Lewis, The Wichita Eagle, Oct. 30, 1997 |
| "Almost Ready for the Mall," The Wichita Eagle, Aug. 30, 1996 |
| "Backyard Garden Art," The Wichita Register, Summer 1996 |
| "Art for the Ages," Jennifer Upchurch, The Wichita Eagle, May 25, 1996 |
| "Seven Views of Gender," The Wichita Eagle, April 5, 1996 |
| "The Color Craft Tulip and Other Murals by Steve Murillo," Rhonda Holman, The Wichita Eagle, June 25, 1995 |
| "A Change of Pace," Better Homes and Gardens Kitchen and Bath Ideas, Spring 1995 |
| "Living the Dream," Larry Gabriel, The Wichita Eagle, Jan. 16, 1995 |
| "The Great Walls of Old Town," Rhonda Holman, The Wichita Eagle, Aug. 21, 1994 |
Awards, Grants and Fellowships
| 1979 – 1980 | National Endowment for
the Arts grant recipient under the Artist-in- Schools program Residency Program; Tonganoxie, Kansas, Board of Education |
| 1977 – 1979 | Wichita Board of
Education Resident Artist, Michael Karolyi Foundation, Vence, France |
| 1970 – 1972 | Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Wichita State University |
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