Artist to Know: Shawn Gilheeney - Inside Art with Michael Rose

Artist to Know: Shawn Gilheeney - Inside Art with Michael Rose

Most artists have day jobs that place them behind the scenes. They might work in art galleries or museums, hold teaching positions, or have professions outside of the arts altogether. For Shawn Gilheeney though, his business as a leading sign painter through his shop Providence Painted Signs places his craft squarely in the public eye. This work is also complementary to his studio practice in which he produces striking abstractions that employ color and texture. Gilheeney’s signage lives in public places around the state and beyond, while his paintings have found their way into a range of collections. An integral element of the visual arts community, he is an artist whose career is an example of the overlap between skills used by studio art-makers and creative artisans.

Originally from Rhode Island, Gilheeney studied visual art at Rhode Island College and went on to find work in the offset printing industry in the early 2000’s. It was in this field where he developed many of the graphic skills that he utilizes in his current professional work as one of the area’s premiere sign painters. In 2012, Gilheeney founded Providence Painted Signs, which is based out of a modest garage in the city’s West End. In the shop, he is known for creating eye-catching graphics for businesses and organizations. These works have found their way onto surfaces ranging from windows and vehicles to vast brick walls.

Speaking of how his artmaking in the studio and his creative energies in the sign shop have merged, Gilheeney states, “The overlap now is that the tools and materials in the fine art work are the same as in the sign work. Previously in my fine art practice that wasn’t the case but it’s a case of personal visual homogenization.”

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In his studio paintings, this Venn diagram is evident to those who look closely. From color selection to application, Gilheeney’s personal work leverages the same store of knowledge he draws upon in his day job. In particular, the artist’s keen understanding of visual design comes across in his paintings. Expertly chosen and complementary colors result in vibratory pairings. When asked what informs his current body of fine art work, Gilheeney says, “The driving force behind my studio work these days is an exploration of the mark making from the sign work.”

Gilheeney’s work has been exhibited widely, and in 2015 was the subject of a memorable site-specific installation in the Hunt-Cavanagh Gallery at Providence College. As part of the show A Sign Only Has to Serve as a Sign, Providence Painted Signs transformed one exhibition space by painting signage directly onto its walls. Normally precise visual language was occasionally disrupted by a dribble of black paint cascading down from bold type.

He was raised in Rhode Island and chose to build his dual career here. When asked what has kept him in the state, he explains, “These days it’s the bay and the ocean that keep me happy to be in Rhode Island. Back in the early 2000’s it was the thriving art and cheap mill space scene. Overall I’ve been constantly inspired by all of the talented people I’ve met and worked with over the years here.”

Gilheeney’s contributions to his home state are not limited to private art collections, but to the public life of places where his sign work resides. Two of the more notable projects he has spearheaded include an enormous mural on the rear of Trinity Repertory Theatre and the restoration of Olneyville’s iconic New York System neon sign. Completed in 2016, the Trinity Mural levitates over LaSalle Square, enlivening a formerly blank space and welcoming visitors to Providence. Installed in November, Olneyville’s restored New York System sign included work from numerous collaborators. It is now a beacon for the neighborhood.

Entering 2022, Gilheeney is looking forward to continuing his studio explorations. He says, “In my artistic practice I’m looking forward to having an excuse to make some work, allowing myself the time off from the commercial work. I’ve been wanting to dive deeper with various techniques of faux painting, wood graining, Trompe-l'œil and such and see what happens.”

Through Providence Painted Signs, Gilheeney’s team is keeping the somewhat precarious art of sign painting alive and well in the region. The placards and billboards created by he and his collaborators bring color and interest to their sites and are artworks in their own right. In his personal studio practice, Gilheeney continues to create exciting new work in a singular style that shows his personality, versatility, and passion.

To learn more about Shawn Gilheeney’s personal artwork, visit his website at https://www.shawngilheeney.com 

To learn more about Providence Painted Signs, visit https://www.providencepaintedsigns.com