Visions from the Main Artery – The Art of David F. Heatwole, at Chrysalis Annex Gallery

I am excited to introduce the Chrysalis Annex Gallery, and we’re thrilled to host our first solo artist exhibition, Visions from the Main Artery – The Art of David F. Heatwole. The gallery is an expansion of Chrysalis Artist Studios, a communal artists’ studio space in the Asian Town Center, which opened in 2024. Chrysalis is grateful to Negative Space Gallery for the opportunity to take over the curation of the Annex space.

David Heatwole is a prolific artist and recent transplant to Cleveland from Virginia. He is also a big-rig trucker by day, and many of the pieces featured in the exhibition were painted during his down time while on the road. He works in several distinct styles, primarily in oils. Upon first glance, Heatwole’s paintings seem to come from entirely different artistic voices. In searching for the threads that tie them together, I notice that each and every painting has a pulse, a sense of movement and animism that is present whether I am looking at an illusionistic still life or a landscape created with thousands of tiny dots.

Heatwole, who has also worked under the pseudonyms David Johnson and D.J. Priest, describes this pulsehimself as both energy and synergy. He weaves in symbolic iconography that is at once personal and universal, like teapots and children’s toys, and he does not hide his reverence for other artists, both historic and contemporary. From Van Gogh’s starry skies, to Dali’s worlds within worlds, Heatwole’s paintings take us on a journey through our collective consciousness, which he populates with objects from his surroundings that have a palpable dearness to him.

With a background in illustration and commercial art, Heatwole is an eleventh-generation artist with roots that go back to Germany. He grew up surrounded by art and artists, most notably his father, John L. Heatwole, a renowned sculptor of fantasy and folklore who worked mainly in wood. Encouraged by his family, David Heatwole also drew early inspiration from reading books in the science fiction and fantasy genres. From the beginning, he found connections everywhere and followed a path of wonder that continues to this day. He writes, “I learned early that life is not linear but deeply mysterious. Over time, I’ve followed invisible threads—linking moments, stories, and discoveries—into a cosmic tapestry of insight and possibility.”

Aside from being an artist, Heatwole is also a curator, collector, and advocate for the arts. He believes deeply in the power of art to provoke positive change in the world. He seeks to expand his vision through collaborative community initiatives, and asks us to imagine a world “that supports the arts so powerfully and visibly that society is forced to pay attention. Imagine art rising into the headlines, not as decoration or distraction, but as a counterforce—a kind of war against war.” One of the projects he is currently developing is the TransformaMuseum—a mobile fleet of custom semi-trailers—with the goal of transporting world-class exhibitions to everyone, no matter their geographic location. He has also worked with school systems on projects such as murals and huge collaborative installations inspired by Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

From a truck driver dreaming up mobile museums (in trucks) to a more inward-looking spiritual artist, David Heatwole is a force to be reckoned with. He is sure to bring positive energy to Cleveland, and it is my privilege to present his paintings for the first time to our community. The exhibition will open with a reception from 5 to 7 pm on Saturday, April 25, and will run through Sunday, June 14. The gallery, which is accessible and located on the second floor, is open daily during regular building hours: 9 am to 8 pm.

CHRYSALIS ARTIST STUDIOS
1541 East 38th Street, Second Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
chrysalisartiststudios.com
chrysalisartiststudios@gmail.com
Instagram: chrysalis_artist_studios
Facebook: Chrysalis Artist Studios

EVENTS:

WINTERLUDE, Group Exhibition, through March 29

Visions From the Main Artery – The Art of David F. Heatwole, April 25–June 14, Opening reception 5-7pm Saturday, April 25

Open Studios, 5-9pm last Saturday of every month