CJ Metzger describes herself as a urban folk artist whose paintings and creations blend surreal and whimsical imagery, reveal layered meanings, and examine human existence. Her paintings are often narrative, influenced by her 5-year old daughter, fairy tales, and her observations of relationships between humans, nature & the environment. Most recently she is obsessed with creating portraits of woman flanked by animals and insects.

In addition to her fine art, CJ is also a gifted illustrator, graphic designer, writer, and character designer/developer. She has created works for Neiman Marcus, Hot Topic, Fred Eric, Hard Rock Café, Baby Tattoo Books, Mindstyle, and the Los Angeles Times. Some of these recent career highlights include designing a line of limited edition vinyl toys (Mindstyle), releasing her children’s book (Baby Tattoo Books), designing Decorama wall vinyls and there logo for Bored Inc., , creating stationary designs with Rosebud Design, and collaborating with her writer/husband Pete Metzger and The Chiodo Bros. on a children's entertainment project (Mischievous Maeve & the Monster Brigade).

Currently, CJ’s work is being sought after by galleries, and is being collected by all sorts of arts collecting types around the globe. Her career continues to thrive in multiple directions including; exhibiting in numerous solo and group shows, collaborating with her artist sister Miss Mindy, designing vinyl toys, and writing & illustrating her own children’s books.

Past Fine Art Exhibitions

Pop Gallery - Santa Fe, NM - Sugar Coated Strange - Pop Femme Show, 2008

The Hive Gallery - Downtown Los Angeles, CA - Featured Artist

Black Maria Gallery - Atwater, CA - Menace of Childhood Group show

The Wind-up Gallery. Phoenix, AZ - Unfourgettable Show - 2007

The Hive Gallery - Downtown Los Angeles, CA - Group Show 2007

Gallery Revisited - Silverlake, CA – Secret Lives of Dolls - Joint Show 2007

Gallery Nucleus - Alhambra, CA –Power in Numbers Show - Group Show 2007

Gallery Revisited – part of various salon style shows. 2006 - current

Center for the Arts - Eagle Rock, Route 66 Art Auction 2004-2006

Center for the Arts - Eagle Rock Women’s Work II Exhibit - August 2003

Gallery Ophelia - Girlhood Revisited – Show with Miss Mindy 2003

Gallery Figeroa – Plaisirs de l’imagination – show with Miss Mindy & Katrina Alexy 2002

Lankershim Arts Center - Group Show October 2001

Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock - Women’s Work Exhibit August 2001

Affair of Art – Ryman Foundation Auction at Disney Imagineering Campus  2001

Art from the Heart -Chase Place Foundation Children's Hospital – 6th Annual Art Auction 2001

Cannibal Flower – Art and Performance Space – ongoing exhibitions

Group Holiday show at Sirens Coffee House – La Canada December 2000 - January 2001

Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock - Futura Carnival - joint-exhibition November 2000

Northeast Invitational  II– Group exhibition, City of Los Angeles Century Gallery 2000

Paintings and Assemblages - Solo show at Sirens Coffee House – La Canada December 1999

No Ho Nights- North Hollywood Night Street Art Show June and August 1999

Collage, Mixed Media and Sculpture Show – Long Beach Arts – Juror Kim Abeles 1998

COMA Gallery- “Daily Exposures”Student Gallery at Cal. State Los Angeles 1998

extended bio

CJ Metzger:
Candace (or CJ) is a painter, illustrator, writer and designer working in Los Angeles. Her paintings are narrative, often revealing sweet, wonderous and sometimes somber stories of humans and their relationships with animals and the natural environment. To illustrate these stories, she uses acrylics, collage, mixed media, and digital methods, blending surreal and whimsical imagery in a highly delicious and alluring way.

Her exhibition history began 8 years ago, with her artist sister (Miss Mindy) combined forces to bring their "pop-surrealism" or "urban folk art" genre of art to the art to the public eye. During these early years, she found that people adored her character based and folk art inspired pieces finding them them unique and refreshing. W

Her work transcends basic illustration through their narration coupled by compelling intent. Currently there is an increased appreciation for this genre and CJ is becoming a "notarized participant in the scene, with a careful and well thought-out approach to her work and an unparalleled dedication to her craft." (Leora Lutz, curator - Gallery Revisited)

Recent career highlights include designing a line of limited edition vinyl toys (Mindstyle), releasing her children’s book (Baby Tattoo Books), designing Decorama wall vinyls and there logo for Bored Inc., , creating stationary designs with Rosebud Design, and collaborating with her writer/husband Pete Metzger and The Chiodo Bros. on a children's entertainment project (Mischievous Maeve & the Monster Brigade).

CJ has created works for companies the likes of Nieman Marcus, Hot Topic, Hard Rock Café, D.L. Rhein, Catfish Bite, The Red Dress Shoppe, Bistro de la Gare, Bored Inc., Tiara Cafe/Fred Eric, The Red Dress Shoppe, Instant Carma, The Cupcake Courier, Persimmon.com, Decorama, and the Los Angeles Times.

As far as education and arts training goes, CJ Metzger has received her BA from CSULA, studied at Art Center - Pasadena, and recieved her Masters' at USC, all whilst continuing to exhibit in strange locations (in a bank vault, on the sidewalk, on a roof top)...

CJ’s work is being sought after by galleries in Santa Fe, Los Angeles, Culver City, and Arizona, and arts-collecting types all around the globe (she even has a painting in Antarctica!). For CJ, her diverse creative life and career journey sure hasn’t been by any textbook, but she feels that when you follow your passions - there really isn’t one – and that’s just the way she likes it.

For a current resume, artist statement, or more info, please email CJ Metger @ cjmetzger@cjmetzger.com