Biography of David Trulli
David Trulli works primarily in scratchboard, scratching images into ink-coated, clay surfaces on wood panels that are often quite large by traditional standards. A former cinematographer, Trulli blends that experience with his admiration of the master wood-engravers of the 1930’s to produce intricate pieces. He compares working in scratchboard to lighting a film set: “it starts out black and you add light.”
According to Artweek critic Charlene Roth, “his black-and-white renderings show still moments, but these are a view of a gathering of energy before screams of panic. They are pictures of the instant when the uncanny intrudes upon the here and now.”
Trulli has been profiled in the L.A. Times and his work has appeared in publications such as Juxtapoz, Artweek, Fabrik, ArtScene and others. In 2009 he was commissioned by Harley-Davidson to create his work on a motorcycle gas tank.
David Trulli was born in New York, currently resides in Los Angeles, and has a studio in Hollywood.
Solo Exhibitions:
2017 “(space)Men in the Cities” Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, July
2014 “Event Horizon” Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, March
2012 “Second Nature,” Foley Gallery, New York, NY. October
2011 “Beyond Daylight” E6 Gallery, San Francisco, CA, February
2010 “In Broad Daylight” Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, September
2008 “All Lines Are Busy” Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, April
2006 “The View From Here” Copro/Nason Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, December
2005 “David Trulli - Scratchboard” Earl McGrath Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, January
2004 “Big City…Small Stories” Gallery 825 – Santa Monica, CA, January
2002 "Slow Pictures...Fast World" Gallery Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA, October
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2018 "Italianità" The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, May - January 2019
2012 London Art Fair, London, UK. January
2011 “Looking Forward,” Foley Gallery, New York, NY. November
2011 London Art Fair, London, UK. January
2010 “Los Angeles Loteria: An Exploration of Identity” San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA, May
2009 “Whim Wham” Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, February
2009 “Harley-Davidson Presents: The Art of Rebellion, Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, February
2008 “The Art of Vision” Zimmer Museum, Los Angeles, CA, May
2008 “Alex Steinweiss Tribute” Curated by Kevin Reagan and Greg Escalante. Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2008 “Carnivora” C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, MI, January
2007 “Marks” Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA
2007 “L.A. Ethos” Pharmaka, Los Angeles, CA, February
2007 “New Year in Black and White” I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Curated by Mat Gleason.
Bibliography:
“David Trulli - In Broad Daylight” by Liz Goldner, Art Ltd. Magazine, November 2010
“David Trulli” by Peter Frank. Fabrik Magazine (Issue #10), October 2010
“David Trulli ” by Marlena Donohue, cover story, ArtScene Magazine, September 2010
“David Trulli - In Broad Daylight” cover - California Contemporary Art Magazine, September 2010
“David Trulli - Scratching Success” cover - Coagula Art Journal (Issue #92), May 2008
“Carnivora: The Dark Art of Automobiles.” Scapegoat Publishing. Mass-market book, March 2008
“Copro/Nason Fine Art – A Catalogue Raisonné” Mass-market, Hardcover book, December 2006
“David Trulli and Michiko Yao at Revisited” by Charlene Roth, Artweek Magazine, July/August 2004
“Scratching Life’s Surface” by Duane Noriyuki, Los Angeles Times, January 15, 2004