Gregory Shilling, @paintinmyblood

Gregory Shilling is an artist and muralist from Sacramento. He’s also a passionate birdwatcher, a late-night dancer, and a loving partner. He got his BFA from UC Santa Cruz in 2019 and has been a full-time artist since. His work explores facial expression and body language and the ways a painting can be woven with identity and narrative. Sometimes his work is peaceful and pastoral, like a seat in a garden, other pieces depict loud, dynamic groups of people painted with energetic brushstrokes. Either way, a story is being told. Shilling’s figures are often accompanied by native flora and fauna as a reminder we are not on this planet alone. He makes oil paintings and sculpts, but his most rewarding projects are large-scale murals. If you see him on a wall, stop for a chat.