These are Visual Artworks as productions by way of being rigorously created in a collective series l

These are Visual Artworks as productions by way of being rigorously created in a collective series l
All artwork on this blog is Copyright 2023 Turtel Onli , and other dates. All Rights Protected & not to be remixed, rebooted or used commercially without a signed agreement with Prof. Onli. The smaller images on the right are links to reels or related websites.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Prof. Onli, seated on his  important "Rhythmistic Bench" that is on permanent display at the Chicago Children's Museum. Serious curators and collectors are invited to appreciate this Rhythmistic practice.

Onli  earned a BFA & M.A.A.T. from the prestigious Schol of the Art Institute of Chicago.  He participated in the school's, now defunct. annual scholarship fund raiser.  At this event the participating alum created art while art lovers watched.  The art was sold that evening. This was Onli's way of helping others to experience the amazing learning experiences possible at SAIC.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Onli created this illustration for the late great Miles Davis in 1975.  In two presentations to the futurist jazz master, Miles, voiced his desire to own and use the illustration as an album cover. However he and Onli could not come to terms.  Rumor said that Davis wanted Onli to donate its use for free and Onli wanted to be paid…  Rhythmism abounds. Afrofuturists will appreciate Onli's treatment of the shoes.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

"Asian: Speak No Evil": 24"W X 36"L,  oils on archival canvas board. 

Thursday, August 27, 2015

The museum quality Rhythmistic fine art by Prof. Onli a is deserving of major placement due to their characteristics and the overarching themes of Onli's artistic practice. He has accepted the challenges of working in  various genres, along with completing an incredible sequence of educational processes as a student and later as an instructor. His daring acceptance of his cultural paradigm is balanced with his curiosity for the cultures of others. In this his artworks are influenced by the ongoing melange of humanity.  Serious curators and collectors value these insights as party to the growing of major collections in the future.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

" I will be featuring my "No Evils" selections Sept. 18th per our monthly 3rd Friday Open Studios. At the Bridgeport Art Center, 3400 South Racine in Chicago.

Located on the 3rd floor, studio #3110 via the Sculpture Garden of amazing contemporary work.
Sept. 18th 2015.

 Discover art beyond the confines of galleries and expos.

 Studios allow for a more intimate connection to the art, the artist and the relationship of the two."
 This oil painting was completed and found a great home with a career classical violist.
This image is part of a pair that will be featured during the studio open house.
All images and art Copyright 2015 Turtel Onli.  Images posted on this blog are not to be printed, published or posed without permission from Turtel Onli.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

 Tamir interned recently with ONLI STUDIOS in Art Therapy and career options.  She is a talented student at Middlebury College in Vermont and a POSSEE Scholar.  She invited me to attend the "Internship Celebration" for POSSE.

There are amazing people coming in the next generation! WOW!!!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Now to return focus to placing exquisite Rhythmistic Visual Art in major collections.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

 ONLI STUDIOS is Number 3110 on the 3rd Floor of the Racine entrance via the Sculpture Garden.

 "The Rhythmistic 'Melon" is a growing collection. These are details from a few paintings.




Friday, July 10, 2015




Onli describes his unique Rhythmistic vision and art as if one placed Odd Nerdrum and Jimi Hendrix in a microwave….he would pop out.

"I find that drawing and painting is the most future-primitif art form in practice and impact.  It has been with us since the prehistoric eras and enshrined in our best museums and collections. Their potential is fascinating!"


Wednesday, July 8, 2015

 My Jimi Hendrix inspired exhibition on video: "I Dream of Jimi" is still a multi-media treat. It features original music and art inspired by the conceptual and creative works of the late, great Jimi Hendrix.
This Rhythmistic video was collected by video data banks at major institutions.

Monday, July 6, 2015

We ask you: What were you expecting?

"All y'all kick-ass independent explorers and appreciators of the American born Rhythmistic Visual art genre are welcome to share in my home.  "The Rhythmic-Zone"."




During the early part of Onli's creative practice, an experimental psychologist at the former Michael Reese Medical Center of Chicago declared that Onli had mastered combining chaos and order in his art.  She found this early virtuosity disturbing yet promising. At the time Onli was 19 years old. See.....he has been at this a long time.

Later Onli sent, from Paris,  slides of his art to a influential gallery in the River West District of Chicago.  The owner responded with an urgent positive interest to handle his work  But when he returned to Chicago to meet her she was shocked to see he was a 24 year old Black male.  She shouted: "No way you did this art! You are a fraud!"  Then she had her gallery's muscle to remove him from the gallery.

She was not ready to accept that Blacks could rock the visual art work on merit, vision, skill, creativity and intelligence in the alpha-prime context.  So she blocked that move.  She was so limited. Poor baby!!!!
 Hmmm! That was 1978.  We are so glad this is now! 2015!


OK!  He is Black and sometimes his art features Black folks. This is more about place and not race.  But not in the streets, jails, fields or kitchens. Or being a victim. Or entertaining. Instead of fighting the power they exude the power. The power of imagination! He contextualizes a universal dialog of being humanity's "Black" quadrant from the Rhythmic-Zone having all types of powerful and lyrical meanings.  Thus adding a missing link in our collective consciousness of creativity, culture and commerce.  And of course there is the you too....  

"I earned two degrees from the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. My thought was since it was the number one rated art school in the United States of America, they should have the pleasure of me twice. BFA Art Education.  M.A.A.T. Art Therapy. My childhood dream was to go there.  Nothing like honoring your inner child! "

Monday, June 29, 2015

CHICAGO- Collectors and serious curators notice: 

 "How does your collections grow?"

ONLI STUDIOS will be featuring a portion of Prof. Onli's Rhythmistic 

"PASSION FRUIT" collection. 

(The above work: "Taming the Waters" 24" X 36" framed on archival canvas board.  See details at ONLI STUDIOS.)

These altercontextualized watermelon themed masterworks of oils on canvas serves notice that this iconic fruit is also a transitional object across time eras, metaphors and cultural ownership.


  • DATE & Time: July 17th 2015 6pm until 10pm. Free admission Open Studios!!!
  • Location: The Bridgeport Art Center, via the Sculpture Garden, at 3400 South Racine
  • Studio #3110 Phone: 773-726-1610.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Monday, May 25, 2015

Vintage Rhythmistic Video Link:  The area just before this sentence is a  link shows Rhythmsitc art created in Onli's pre-Paris. Circa 1976

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Note to serious collectors, curators and producers:  "At ONLI STUDIOS Ownership is the highest form of appreciation!"

"I love the public forum of group or solo exhibitions but now my focus is to deliver my better Rhythmistc original art into major collections be they personal or institutional. This seems stage perfect for me and my practice after exhibiting and being published in various situations since my career's launch in 1970.  I still feel the smell of oils is the smell of art."

Prof. Onli is limiting the public exhibition of his Rhythmistic Fine Art to a few select prestigious opportunities. However his art is available during studio viewings:  In monthly open house settings or scheduled billable appointments. ONLI STUDIOS is located in the Bridgeport Art Center at 3400 South Racine in Chicago, on the east banks of the Chicago River. Studio #3110.

Call 773-726-1610 USA in Chicago. Or by email: onli@sbcglobal.net




Taking time to share out the progress in a few oil paintings. While I work with intent and goals the process is always full of welcomed surprises. Followed by the excitement of watching paint dry as it talks to me. Indigo over mauve.  Feathers alive instead uniform. Tenderness in both. One started in 2004 the other in 2008.

No art before its time. Libby Lumpkin once wrote that " the authority of a work of art resides in the richness and complexity of our responses to it." Discover is not a set system.

 "Place Setting" above, "Birds of Paradis" below. Both in oil on canvas. Above canvas board. Below stretched canvas. In the era of quick opinions and digital imaging I still fine excitement in the application of escalating painting and its potential.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Philip Glass once stated that music is about listening and that art is about looking.
"Perhaps the best thing that about time spent in the art room becomes apparent when you leave it, and find the world around you sharpened…. heightened….tilted a degree off the axis of the ordinary! Do you have an art room?"
From the book "How To Look At a Painting" by Justin Paton.
"Aesthetics is for Artist what Ornithology is for Birds!": Barnett Newman
"Looking to communicate through the words of others while working to be better in the old school art or fine art making. Rhythmistic or not."

" I am crafting my original art along the guide lines and pathways to arrive at the level of  Rhythmistic Master works. Rare. Powerful. Impactful. Bold. Beautiful when possible. " 

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Visit the virtual Rhythmistic Museum while it last.  This version, created in 2002, will be traveling to a new server soon. An adventure into Art Appreciation.

Monday, April 6, 2015

"Danse of the 911 Phoenix" Acrylics on canvas. 40"H X 30"W Circa 9/11/2001 per Onli



April 17th 2015 Onli will be hosting an open studios to offer selected original works and limited edition portfolio books for his growing landmark "No Evils" exhibition. ONLI STUDIOS is located at 3400 South Racine in Chicago IL. On the 3rd floor at studio 3110. In the amazing Bridgeport Art Center.





Wednesday, April 1, 2015

 Onli creates his Rhythmistic art to be parts of streams of ideas and explorations of a theme.
 Onli was honored recently with a retrospective exhibition at the
prestigious Harold Washington Library.
 "East/West Zodiac Journal" features 12 amazing Rhythmistic illustrations for the right collector.



 These books feature musings and fine art created around the Chinese proverb of "No Evils".