Cedar River Artisans

Casey Kasparek is a contemporary artist based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Working primarily in oil paint, his practice explores portraiture, abstraction, memory, identity, and human connection. His work ranges from large-scale figurative paintings and portraits to heavily layered abstract surfaces that reveal the history of their making.
 

Over the past two decades, Kasparek’s work has been exhibited in solo, group, and juried exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe, including exhibitions in New York, California, Wisconsin, Missouri, the Netherlands, and Italy. His paintings are held in private collections across the United States and abroad.

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Recurring themes throughout his work include resilience, vulnerability, belonging, and the shared experiences that connect people to one another. Whether working through portraiture or abstraction, Kasparek is interested in creating paintings that balance emotional presence with strong visual structure.

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Recent bodies of work include The Kids, a portrait series exploring childhood and identity; Sisters, a collection of contemporary figurative paintings defined by bold color and simplified form; and Forever Ago, a series of heavily layered abstract paintings built through years of revision, accumulation, and excavation.

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Kasparek lives and works in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he maintains an active studio practice while pursuing exhibitions, public art opportunities, and collaborative creative projects.