I learned today of the death of Joe Markevicius, one of my favorite artists. Joe was a “soutsider” artist, a graduate of Gage Park High School and a wizard with pastels. I always thought there was a sadness to Joe at least partly reflected in his choice of subject — mostly Chicago places that had disappeared or were in the process of disappearing.
His renderings were incredibly detailed and his skies always dramatic. I never got entirely clear on how much Joe had studied art, but from his own account his training was limited. His craftsmanship was for the most part self taught, and he certainly worked outside the mainstream art world. In some ways he seemed like an architectural version of the great self-taught Chicago painter Drossos Skyllas, whose portraits and landscapes were as finely rendered as Joe’s buildings.
I first encountered his art in the late Puffer’s Bar on Halsted Street in Bridgeport. Though he worked mostly with pastels, it was an oil painting that caught my eye, a rendering of the Tripoly building, one of my favorite Chicago structures, soon to be torn down. I bought pictures from Joe for several years after that, including lots of doomed buildings and a few trains, all given his visionary treatment and incredible attention to detail.
Joe eventually left Chicago to live in Asheville, North Carolina. In a classic case of procrastination regret, I always meant to reconnect with him after he returned to Chicago some years ago, but of course now it’s too late. I remember he found the label “soutsider art” amusing, but his work for the most part never got much attention outside the South Side, though Intuit has borrowed pieces over the years, including the Tripoly building and Aladdin’s Castle (Riverview).
One day Joe will receive the full recognition he deserves for his art. I feel fortunate to have known him and to remain surrounded by some of his wonderful pictures in my home, including, especially, the Tripoly building. We first bonded over our mutual love for this doomed landmark — and monster movies.
You can read Joe’s obituary here.
Here are some examples of his work.
Awesome artist, great guy.
I’m not sure if anyone else contacted you but Joe’s son Jeremy is a good friend of mine and he is in town. I’m sure he’d love to meet you and talk with you about his father. I’ll speak with Jeremy and see if he would like me to pass his number along.
-Jeff
This was lovely. He was a great man. He had a great mind and he loved his children and grandchildren. I grew up with his oldest we have been best friends for over 20 years. Joe was some kind of wonderful.
I’ve known Joe for most of my life and he’s always been the same multi talented, mellow human being. What a gifted artist! You get pulled into his Chicago scenes, especially throughout Bridgeport where he and Tammy and the boys lived in the 70’s until later moving out of town for awhile. I remember the 3 mailboxes he did on 31st and Parnell, the same block as my grandmother’s house. I get such a rush of memories of him growing up back then. There was so much more to Joe that you just can’t put it in words. It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since I last saw him. He is truly a Good Soul. I can tell you, he’ll Never be forgotten. I know, because not a day goes by that he doesn’t pass through my thoughts. I haven’t been strong enough to write this before
I was blessed to grow up with Jeremy, with Joe taking us on “field trips” in the city and his wife Tammy being a second mom. He showed me the first cobble stone rode along with some amazing houses throughout the city. Some of my core memories are our adventure throughout the city and one of my favorite pieces of art in my home is one he did for my parents 40yrs ago.