2020 Faculty Biennial Profile: Chris Gruszka

Meet the artists of the 2020 MCAD Faculty Biennial

I have always loved animation. I was brought up on equal parts Hanna Barbara, mixed with Chuck Jones and Tex Avery, then sprinkled generously with Speed Racer anime. Brought to a simmer and served with a dual side of Thundercats and The Simpsons. The list of my inspirations and influences is just too long to include them all. The bottom line is that I love animation.

I count myself lucky to have been able to have a career in animation. Most of my professional career has focused on the advertising side of animation and adhering to the strict guidelines advertising requires. As such, I use my personal animation projects to really cut loose. My goal is usually to make people laugh (and sometimes cringe). I like to dip into pop culture and twist it in humorous ways. My style lends itself more towards the cartoony side, but I’m always trying to push myself outside my comfort zone. That’s the other benefit to working in advertising, style versatility. One week you may have to animate a Captain Crunch commercial, and the next, an elegant mall shopper created with long sweeping brush strokes. It changes from project to project. I’ve had to work in styles outside of my comfort zone. In my opinion, versatility is an important skill for any artist to possess.

About Chris Gruszka

Born and raised in Chicago, Chris Gruszka earned a BFA with an emphasis in graphic design from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He began his animation career in 1994 at Mike Jones Film. In 2001, he started SeeGru Ink & Animation, specializing in Traditional Animation and Motion Graphics for broadcast television commercials as well as illustration for print and web applications. From character design, storyboarding, and animation direction to billboarding and signage, Gruszka has worked with numerous nationally recognized clients including Quaker Oats, SuperValu Food Stores, Tom Thumb, Fox Sports, and most recently with PBS. Gruszka has produced and presented Animated show pitches to Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Fox Entertainment, and Amazon Studios. He has also written and illustrated his first children’s book, Larping: Book One.