Jose Aggari discovered his passion for art and music as a child while growing up in the Philippines. He came from a family of artists. Jose is accomplished in painting, sculpture and architecture. He is also a gifted percussionist and saxophonist. Jose Aggari immigrated to Chicago at the age of 13, studied art and architecture at Wright College and University of Illinois.
He believes that architecture is the highest form of art, an idea that can be seen in various guises throughout his paintings. His early paintings depict human and animal forms. He worked mostly with oil on wood and experimented with found objects to create beautiful urban collages.
His recent artwork focuses on the relationship between man and nature by incorporating both architectural and natural elements into his paintings. He begins by applying thick layers of paint to the wood and then with spontaneous strokes with a palette knife slices through the canvas creating complex overlapping shapes and forms.
The concept of the struggle for survival is a familiar theme in his work. Aggari’s primary concern, however, is the aesthetic. His paintings posses an intricate narrative quality when viewed at close range, but at a farther range more abstract and expressionistic. Aggari’s work is a challenge to the analytical and a treat for the beauty seeker.