Biography

Gregg Cassin, a self-taught artist came to his craft late, just a few years ago. Gay and15 years HIV+, now 44 (that’s almost 90 in gay/AIDS years!), he fancies himself a "a poor man’s Grandma Moses." His Catholic roots, HIV status, gayness, anger and hope, all greatly influence his work.

His greatest joy is his life with his partner David and their daughter Breauna.

Review

Gregg Cassin's provocative collages reflect a timely challenge: to bridge our culture's complex, cross-cultural spiritual and social histories; to connect intolerant pasts with progressive futures. His portfolio combines a confident mix of photographs, religious symbols, illustrations, book pages even sheet music-- layers and layers of images and themes that spiral from some divine center. Each work feels spiritual, charged: it is as though Cassin has channeled 12th-century illuminations to create his 21st-century art.

"I've been inspired by the Christian Right," says Cassin. "My original idea was to reclaim what was sacred, holy, or good; now it's more about how no one has reacted to their hate." Not a trained artist, Cassin came to his craft a few years ago. " I haven't played out issues of gender, innocence, and healing yet," he says.
Colin Berry 5/2000
REVIEW of SELECTIONS 2000 @ Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (unpublished)

Curriculum Vitae