SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- Gallery 181 at 181 Fremont Residences welcomes “Portraits” by Tyler Willis, an American-Brazilian visual artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a background in architecture and engineering. The exhibition runs from October 23, 2024 – February 28, 2025. Viewings are by private appointment only. Please email Carmen Legarda, Carmen@181Fremont.com, to schedule.
In his artistic practice, Willis employs a diverse range of media, including 3D printing, epoxy resin, graphite, charcoal, and oil/acrylic paint. Through layered textures and colors, he creates portraits that blend photorealism, technical sketching, and abstract expressionism. Willis’s creative process begins by mapping the structure of his subjects from a blend of both imagination and photographic references. Through meticulous layering of detail, the features emerge while maintaining a painterly touch.
Embrace in Noir, 75 x 60, Oil and Acrylic on canvas
In “Portraits”, his first show at Gallery 181, Willis aims to capture the inherent beauty of each subject, striving to evoke emotion and connection through his work and inviting viewers to see beyond the surface, exploring the depth and complexity of human expression. To see stories and highlights of Willis’ art — and what he has in the works — visit his Instagram, @tylerwilliss.
Fire Dancer, Digital print and acrylic on canvas, 40 x 40.
"We are excited to introduce the artwork of Tyler Willis to the Bay Area community with his first San Francisco show at Gallery 181 this fall,” says Matt Lituchy, Chief Investment Officer for the Jay Paul Company, developers of 181 Fremont. “This show underscores our strong commitment to champion San Francisco’s vibrant arts scene by spotlighting a talented, young local artist along with our history of showcasing leading galleries and artists from around the globe. Tyler brings a dynamic energy and unique point of view and methodology to portraiture that immediately captures the viewer’s attention and invites a deeper look.”
Poise in Pink, Oil & Acrylic on canvas, 60. x 48.
181 Fremont’s art program is among the most innovative and comprehensive ever to exist in a private residential building. In addition to a permanent collection, there are over 200 paintings, sculptures and mixed material works displayed throughout. 181 Fremont also hosts world-class exhibitions within residences and at Gallery 181. Recent exhibitions have included artworks by Frank Stella, Richard Serra, Jenny Holzer and Teresita Fernandez.
Untitled #1.1, Oil, acrylic, and gold leaf on canvas, 66 x 48.
Tyler Willis
Tyler Willis is an American/Brazilian visual artist working out of the San Francisco Bay Area. He has a background in Architecture and Engineering and has worked for a number of years in real estate development in California. Artistically, Tyler has worked with a number of mediums ranging from ceramics, graphite, charcoal, and acrylic paint. Recently, he has been exploring digital art in drawing on an iPad and experimenting with 3D rendering software.
Gallery 181
The Gallery 181 art program is the highest art gallery in the world. This on-site exhibition space is in a half-floor penthouse 700 feet high and is the crowning glory of 181 Fremont’s acclaimed art program. This space was created to host ongoing pop-up exhibitions and events celebrating art, the performing arts and more. Partners have included renowned galleries Sprueth Magers, Mitchell-Innes & Nash, Blum & Poe, Lehmann Maupin and Nara Roeseler.
