BIO
Fredo Gillis is a San Diego based contemporary painter whose work explores travel, nostalgia, sensuality, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. Working primarily in oil, he creates figurative paintings and landscapes that blend cinematic storytelling with vibrant color, inviting viewers into moments that feel both deeply personal and universally familiar.
A graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in Business and Entrepreneurship, Gillis has built his artistic career independently, combining a strong entrepreneurial mindset with a dedication to his studio practice. His experience as a professional model has further informed his understanding of composition, movement, and the human figure, lending his work a refined sense of elegance and presence.
Gillis has presented multiple solo exhibitions, including One Way Ticket, Rolling Americana, Playboy: The Show, and Je ne sais quoi, a collection inspired by his artist residency in the South of France. His work has also been featured in numerous group exhibitions throughout Southern California. Through his paintings, workshops, and community events, Gillis continues to cultivate spaces where art, travel, and human connection intersect.
CV
Born in 2001 in San Diego, California
Resides and works across Southern California
EDUCATION
2019-2023: Business Admin in Entrepreneurship, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026, Under the Umbrellas, San Diego, CA (upcoming)
2026, Je Ne Sais Quoi, Provence, France
2026, Playboy: The Show, Los Angeles, CA
2025, Rolling Americana, Los Angeles, CA
2025, One Way Ticket, San Diego Made, San Diego, CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025, Jazz Impressions, Meraki Spaces, San Diego, CA
2025, Meraki Summer Exhibition, Meraki Spaces, San Diego, CA
2024, Black Boy Annual Art Show, Los Angeles, CA
2024, I love a Clean San Diego: A world without water, San Diego, CA
COLLECTIONS
Je Ne Sais Quoi, Provence, France
The Old Hollywood Collection, Los Angeles, US
Rolling Americana, Meraki Spaces, US
The Japan Collection, San Diego Made Factory, US
The Miami Collection, San Diego Made Factory, US
The Southern California Collection, San Diego Made Factory, US
Verano de España, Meraki Spaces, US
The Paris Collection, Meraki Spaces, US
The New York Collection, San Diego Made, US
Cowboy Collection(2024), Meraki Spaces, US
PUBLICATIONS
KPBS. “[One Way Ticket': A San Diego artist's journey across cities and canvases].” KPBS, [September 25, 2025]. Read Article »
KPBS. “[See the art: San Diego's Fredo Gillis opens first solo show].” KPBS, [September 29, 2025]. Read Article »
Live News Coverage of “A World Without Water”. [FOX 5], [April 2024]. Watch Coverage »