Mario Gonzalez Jr. “ZORE”
Contact Information
Instagram DM: @Zore64
Website: Zore64.com
Visual artist painting for 40 + years. Bridging graffiti, gallery, and public art. From Keith Haring's Grant Park mural to solo exhibitions across Chicago, Mexico City, and Turin. Collected widely. Working in communities and with brands to tell stories through large-scale murals, canvas work, and cultural collaborations.
Solo/Duo Exhibitions
2026 “Z O R E” new works by Mario Gonzalez Jr. Tallera Casa Pil, Mexico City
2026 At the Edge of Familiar, Voices Gallery, Dubuque, IA
2017 Gomez/Gonzalez, Waterstreet Studios Gallery, Batavia, IL
2017 Memoria Presente, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago
2016 Dia de Los Muertos, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago
2016 Altered Egos w/Anna Piszczor w/Elephant Gallery Chgo
2015 Art Tapei, Bluerider Gallery, Taiwan
2015 Context/Art Basel, Bluerider Gallery, Miami
2015 Graffismo, Mutem Mexico City, Mexico
2015 I AMerican, Dordt University Gallery, Sioux Center, Iowa
2014 Muro Cinco w/Martha Cooper, Viva Latino, Mexico City
2014 Gomez/Gonzale, Gallery 13, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2013 Write Now, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago
2013 Sidewalk Scholar, Maxwell Collette Gallery, Chicago
2013 Red Dot, Art Basel, satellite exhibition, Miami
2013 Style Bombing, 33Contemporary, Chicago
2013 Write Now group show, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago
2013 Outside In, Torres Gallery, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago
2012 Mario Gonzalez Jr. Zhou B Art Center, Chicago
2012 Mario Gonzalez Jr, Dorothea Thiel Gallery, South Suburban College, South Holland, Il.
2012 Zhou Brothers, name of show
2012 Mite Gallery, Gwangju, South Korea
2011 Zore64, Museum Italian Institute of Art, Torino, IT, Italy
2011 Artists International, Museum of Science and Museum d'Arte in Torino, IT, Italy
2010 Graffpop w/Erik Debat, 54b Gallery, Chicago
2008 2nd floor collective, Artistic Genius Gallery, Chicago
2005 Illusion 3, Mission Cultural Center,
1997 Illusion 5 or 6, DeYoung Museum, San Francisco
1993 The Graffiti Show:A Hip Hop Phenomenon, Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago
1992 Gonzalez/Kiessling, Beacon Street Gallery, Chicago
1991 Power Prostitutes Purity, w/Jennie Kiessling, Around the Coyote NNWAC, Chicago.
1990 Your Message Here, Billboard Project w/Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago.
1989 Borders:Imaginary/Real, w/Jennie Kiessling, The Guild Complex, Chicago.
1989 Peter Mars Gallery, Chicago,
1989 Guild Books Gallery, Chicago
1989 Your Name Here Billboard Project w/Randolph Street Gallery and Group Material, Chicago
Group Shows
2025 Unidos, Dubuque Museum of Art, Iowa
2017 Geometric Complexions, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago
2016 Tempo Memoria, Museo Institute Italia, Torino, Italy
2016 Parallel Lives, Parentheses Gallery, Brooklyn
2015 NIU Gallery, DeKalb, Il.
2015 Transition, 15 & West Gallery, Chicago
2014 Voices10, Dubuque, Iowa
2014 Mexcity, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago
2013 Paint Paste Stick, Chicago Cultural Center Galleries, Chicago
2013 Museum Italian Institute, Torino, Italy
2011-2010 Unusual Suspects, Nelson St Lofts, Atlanta
1992 Reimagining America, Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago
1990 Perceptions of the Other:Exploring Cultural Diversity w/Jennie Kiessling,The Spertus Museum, Chicago
1989 El Día De Los Muertos, Guild Complex Gallery, Chicago
Site Specific Murals/ Tours/ Special Projects
2023 Works in Progress Artist in residence, exhibition and performance, Voices Studios, Dubuque, IA
2023 2019 Resident mural artist Boys and Girls Club murals, Dubuque, IA
2020 Chiang Mai Graffiti Tour
2017 Visiting artist and performance w/Maya Laura Gonzalez and Anna Piszczor, US Consulate Krakow, PL
2016-2010 Visiting artist International Meeting of Styles, Wiesbaden Germany
2013 Has-Beens and Wannabes curated by Mario Gonzalez Jr., Zhou B Art Center, Chicago
1993 What is Hip Hop? Multi media event, Firehouse Theater, Chicago
1990 Knowledge Eye Mural, Uptown Baptist Church and School of the Art Institute, Community Based Programs, Chicago
1989 Grant Park Mural w/Keith Haring, Chicago
1989 4th Presbyterian Church Mural Project w/John Pounds and Chicago Public Art Group
1989 Uptown Youth Center, Uptown Baptist Church
1992 935 Studio A creative hub for graffiti, hip hop and breakdancing
1992-94 Chicago Transit Authority Graffiti Project w/ Constance Mortell
1995-96 Come Out and Play/Come Out and Paint, Lead Artist/Site coordinator, Chicago Park District public mural project, Chicago
1998 Mayor's Employment and Training Program, Lead Artist, 12 Mural project w Chicago Public Schools
1998 Chicago International, Bridgeport Connecticut
1998 Girls Inc, NYC
1993-94 Hip Hop College Tour, coordinator, lecturer, graffiti workshop instructor, Beloit, Oberlan, NYU, Lincoln, NE
1998 SESC, Ipiranga, Brazil Chicago International residency and workshop
Establishment of HigherGliffs with Sam Muberry Dezi, Hyde Park, LaVee Raven
Residencies/Resident Artist
2023 Works in Progress Artist in residence show and performance at Voices Studios, Dubuque, Iowa
2023–2019 Boys and Girls Club murals, resident artist, Dubuque, Iowa
2001 UCLA Visting artist mural workshop,
2016 to present, Westin River North Gallery, Chicago
2015 to 2026, Riverbank Lofts Association, Chicago
2015 to present, Hirschbach, U.S. National campaign murals/canvas/branding
2012 Artist in residence, Gwangju, South Korea/Gwangju Bianale
2010 to 2016 Artist in residence, Kraków, Poland
2010 to 2018 US Consulate Frankfurt, DE.
1993 University of Green Bay, lecturer, critique, mural
1992 University of Green Bay, lecturer, critique, mural
1992 Mexican Fine Art Center Museum Artist Exchange/Residency, Chicago/Mexico City
2010 2018 US Consulate, Frankfurt DE, Visiting/Lead artist, Teen Mural workshop
Administration
2017-2019 Grance Jane Projects, Director/Curator, Chicago
2008-2010 54B Gallery, Curator
2007-2012 2nd Floor Gallery Owner and operator, Chicago
2010-2007 University of Hip Hop Owner and operator, Chicago
90-91 Casa Aztlan, Art Program Director, Chicago
Works in Private Collections include but are not limited to:
Manhattan
Miami
Chicago
San Francisco
Dubuque
Naples and Torino, Italy
South Haven
South Hampton
Greenwich, CT
Denver
London
Geneva
Prague
Mexico
Teaching
Years, Urban Art Academy, Oakland
Years, Urban Promise, Oakland
(Also, see Residencies)
Publications/Media
2026 Painted Word: Text, Gesture, and Expression in Contemporary, Lehman College of Art Gallery, City University of New York
2025 Volume One Publishing, Kuaze One, Abstracting the Typography
2024 Volume One Publishing, Kuaze One, Representing the Midwest Representing the Midwest
2024 Kurt Boone Books, Kurt Boone Beautifying the Bronx
2020 Kurt Boone Books, Kurt Boone Fresh Plywood NYC
2016 Hearst Publishing, Elle Décor, Miami
2011 Harper Collins, Roger Gasteman The History of American Graffiti
2009 Mark Batty Publisher, Steve Rotman Bay Area Graffiti
2006 Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Roger Gasteman Freight Train Graffiti
2001 University of Chicago Press, A Guide to Chicago Murals
2000 Ivan R Dee, Urban Art Chicago, Olivia Gude and Jeff Huebner
1995 Phaidon Press, Graphic Agitation, Social and Political Graphics Since the Sixties
1992-1994 Street Level Video Youth Media w/Inigo Manglano Ovalle
1984 ABC Special, Chicago, Documentary Film, 26th Street, Street of Dreams,