Joel Brotman Debuts Digital and Oil Figure Paintings to Kick Off AIR Gallery's Fall 2025 Season
- airstudio348
- Aug 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 6
AIR Studio + Gallery is excited to debut their Fall Art Season featuring a solo show featuring Highland Park artist, Joel Brotman. Running from September 5 through September 21, Joel's body of work spans oil painting, digital mixed media, and photography. The opening event is Saturday, September 6, 5:00-7:00PM at AIR Gallery, 348 Tudor Court, Glencoe. All are welcome!
Joel Brotman's artworks reflect a journey of self-inquiry, vulnerability, and emotional resonance. Joel’s figures often stand alone, partially abstracted or split, yet grounded in color-rich environments filled with symbolic weight -- windows, flowers, shadows, and echoes of memory. His palette is bold, his lines raw and honest, suggesting both internal fragmentation and deep presence.
At its core, Joel’s work is an expressive endeavor, a means of making sense of things when language falls short. As he puts it, "Creating gives me direction and weight and power.” The result is a collection of work that invites the viewer to sit with ambiguity, confront emotion, and witness a creative spirit unwilling to be dimmed.
About Joel Brotman
After a 15-year career as a financial futures trader, Joel Brotman sought a more meaningful path rooted in connection, introspection, and healing. Inspired in part by the transformative power of therapy in his own life, he returned to school to earn a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago. For the past 25 years, Joel has worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and practicing therapist, helping others navigate the complexities of the human experience.
Joel began painting at a very young age, focusing on painting the figure and self-portraits (several of which will be included in his show). A few years ago, Joel was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Rather than diminish him, the diagnosis ignited a new creative chapter, one that led him to artmaking as a way to process, express, and explore. What began as a personal outlet has grown into a prolific and deeply felt artistic practice.
About AIR Studio + Gallery
AIR (Artists-in-Residence) Studio + Gallery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit artist cooperative located in Glencoe, Illinois. Our community of artist members are provided studio space to work, a gallery to display their art, learning and networking opportunities, camaraderie and support. In addition, AIR hosts a wide variety of arts programs including workshops, critiques, events and more. AIR often partners with other Chicago area arts organizations, as well as local Glencoe and North Shore businesses and arts groups. AIR is located at 348 Tudor Court, Glencoe, Illinois (one block west of Green Bay Road and the Glencoe Metra stop). For more information, call 708-466-3519, email airstudio348@gmail or consult the website: www.airstudio348.com.
Paintings from left to right:
Joel Brotman "Confusion" - Digital Ink Jet on Matte Presentation Paper - 8 1/2"W x 11"H
Joel Brotman "Could be Worse" - Acrylic on Canvas - 23"W x 22"H
Joel Brotman "He's No Fun" - Acrylic and Oil on Canvas - 30"W x 24"W