Lukas Kandl

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“Ce qui m’importe c’est de montrer des tableaux devant lesquels le spectateur attentif va s’installer, entrer en communion, faire sa propre promenade de rêve éveillé et s’habiller, ne serait-ce que pour un moment, d’une sensation rare, inhabituelle.”

“What matters to me is to show paintings in front of which the attentive spectator will settle down, enter into communion, take his own waking dream walk and dress, if only for a moment, in a rare, unusual sensation.”

Belphégor (La Fontaine Livre 12, Fable 27) - Oil on canvas 195 x 130 cm

Born in Prague, Czech Republic, in 1944, Lukas Kandl graduated from the Prague Academy of Fine Arts and now lives in France. From 2002 to 2020, Lukas lead the “Visionirique-étrange” group of the Salon Comparaisons which exhibited every year in the Grand Palais in Paris. In 2006, Kandl led the creation of the international movement “Libellule, Contemporary Renaissance”. Ever since, he has given an annual theme and format to the artists of Libellule and launched a new collection.

The group started the first show in the Grand Palais in Paris at the “Art Capital fair – salon Comparaisons” and then the collection was circulated worldwide.

In 2020, Kandl began a large Libellule project, titled "Tribute to La Fontaine"; to have all the La Fontaine fables reinterpreted by the Libellule artists (246 fables) ready for the 400th anniversary of this great poet (08/07/1621). The project was done on time and shown in three different locations in 2021. The project was published in three volumes which included all texts and images.

"On January 2016, I realized my 1000th painting. As I loved the La Fontaine Fables project so much, I decided to reinterpret all the La Fontaine's Fables by myself. My goal is to have a book edited with my interpretation of the 246 fables for my 80th birthday."

Lukas Kandl has a notable career spanning 80 solo shows and participation in more than 500  group exhibits. The recipient of numerous awards, including the Golden Palm in the Art Festival in Brussels (Belgium), the prize of the national council at the International Prize of Monte-Carlo (Monaco), First Place Award at the Art Festival of Osaka (Japan) as well as a  Prize by the European Foundation. Lukas Kandl has been elected as a member of the exclusive Copley Society in Boston (U.S.A.) and promoted Commander in orders of the European Star, as well as Chevalier du Tastevin at the Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy (France). In June 2019, Kandl received the Gold Medal of the A.S.L. “Arts Sciences and Letters” Academy.

Les Animaux malades de la peste (La Fontaine Livre 7, Fable 1) - Oil on canvas 170 x 245 cm
Vertumnus couronné (Tribute to Arcimboldo) - Oil on canvas 195 x 130 cm
Gardien d'un inaccessible trésor - Oil on canvas 180 x 300 cm
Cheval à la rose magique - Oil on canvas 80 x 60 cm

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

 

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Tatyana Palchuk

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"Deep and complete knowledge of my profession are proven by long years during which I was learning and improving myself as a professional. My creative work is first of all characterized by many exhibitions, publications and positive feedback from students, colleagues and art critics."

Series Rainbow Violet, 2019 - Oil on linen 65 x 75 cm

Latvian painter, Tatyana Palchuk was born and has been living all her life in Riga in a small area between the Art Academy and Elizabeth Street. Already during kindergarten, teachers predicted the little drawer had an artist's destiny. Although nobody was connected to arts in her family, Tatyana was constantly drawing in the sand with a stick.

Tatyana lost her relatives in Stalin's repressions and her father at an early age and has been growing independently as other kids from the 50s - 60s. She was the eternal engine and captain of the yard kids. Tatyana enrolled in Rozental's Art School by herself, not even telling her mother. The artist tells that becoming an artist was not as easy for her and she had drawn on to the level of the more talented school and academy members, in her opinion, only by thorough and accurate work. 

Her teachers are indisputable stars of Latvian and Europeean Art; Imants Vecozols, Pēteris Postažs, Boriss Bērziņš, Edgars Iltners and academic Ed. Kalniņš. She has been among the few who have done the postgraduate course or workshop with the academic Eduards Kalniņš. Tatyana is proud to have had the honour and uncommon confidence to visit and grow artistically at the academic's home, studio and also have him at her small studio of only 12m2 in Elizabeth Street apartment.

Light, 1996 - Oil on linen 120 x 170 cm
Portrait of a Man, 2019 - Oil on linen 72 x 58 cm
Two Captains, 2020 - Oil on linen 55 x 65 cm
Anthem of Joy (Allusions to Beethoven’s music), 2019 - Oil on linen 95 x 120 cm

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

 

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Ann James Massey

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"Living in a country that cherishes past and present, my major focus has become creating that juxtaposition in my subject matter. Into that mix, I am now adding the element of tributes to influencing factors in my life. Always, we rest on the shoulders of those masters who came before us."

The Woodworker - Wax pencil 12 x 9.5 in.

"In 1970, my instructor at the El Paso Art Academy put a black wax pencil in my hand and my path in art was decided. My light touch and patience married perfectly with the medium, and the works I created were well received, winning awards starting with the first exhibition I entered. After 20 years of drawing, selling, exhibiting, and teaching private lessons, I finally discovered the traditional oil painting method I had been seeking. Given my extensive art background, I quickly picked up the methods at the Schuler School of Fine Art in Baltimore. As with the Colored Pencil, this traditional handling of the materials inspired the same instinctive connection and subsequent recognition starting with my first painting.

Despite the tight realism, many of my pieces are not actual reproductions of anything I’ve seen, but rather a composite of various images I’ve taken over the years, augmented with sketches and imagination. Often, I deliberately flatten and slightly distort perspective, as did the old masters, to create a composition more pleasing to the eye. Everything is created freehand with no mechanical or reproductive means. Among the honors my work has received are numerous national and international awards including 18 in New York and London group exhibitions. In 2004, The Art Renewal Center chose me among their initial 34 artists selected for The Living Masters Gallery in their online museum dedicated to traditional and realist art. I and/or my work have been published in 24 magazines and 37 books”

Ann James Massey (b.1951, USA) is, among others, a member of The Society of Women Artists UK, American Artists Professional League (Fellow Maxima Cum Laude), Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, Colored Pencil Society of America (Charter and Signature Member); United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society (Charter and Silver Member, President/Honorary President 2004 to 2010) and Mensa. Massey owned and operated The Montwood Gallery in El Paso, TX from 1974 to 1978 and Massey Fine Arts in Santa Teresa, NM from 1992 to 1994. Her studio is currently based in Paris, France.

The Blessing of the Animals - Oil on Mahogany board 17 x 23 in.
The Marionette Shop - Oil on Mahogany board 20 x 16 in.
The Connoisseur - Oil on Mahogany board 16 x 20 in.
La Maison de Poupées - Oil on Mahogany board 20 x 16 in.

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

 

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Arjun Kamath

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Born 1987, India

Lives in: Bengaluru, India

Describe your art in 3 words: Vivid, aesthetically-rich, thought-provoking

See More Work:  https://kamatharjun.com | Instagram@arjunkamath87

My mind, a shining guillotine

"At large, my photographic works revolves around fascinating faces and characters. To put it simply, I love photographing people. My projects range from documentaries to fashion portraiture and advertising campaigns to tasteful weddings. But at the core, I enjoy telling stories and portraying the unique flavor each person brings to the world. At times, these stories are simple and endearing, taken during my travels, on fashion assignments while I collaborate with artists of the Indian film industry, or during wedding projects. At other times, they are complex and drive a social message. My photo stories called ‘Avani’, ‘Color of Our Skin’, and ‘The Anxiety Series’ are a testament, exploring grim realities of gender discrimination, racism, and mental illnesses through pictures and prose."

What themes does your work involve?
At large, my photographic works revolves around fascinating faces and characters. To put it simply, I love photographing people. My projects range from documentaries to fashion portraiture and advertising campaigns to tasteful weddings. But at the core, I enjoy telling stories and portraying the unique vibrance each person brings to the world. At times, these stories are simple and endearing, taken during my travels, on fashion assignments while I collaborate with artists of the Indian film industry, or during wedding projects. At other times, they are complex and drive a social message. My photo stories called ‘Avani’, ‘Color of Our Skin’, and ‘The Anxiety Series’ are a testament, exploring grim realities of women subjugation, racism, and mental illnesses through pictures and prose.
Describe your creative process.
It begins as a vivid thought which I translate into a final photograph. I start by listing ideas on paper, after which I research and read to ensure my approach is genuine. I also take the time to understand what about that story is important to me. Then comes the pre-production stage. I etch out the theme and story, which are accompanied by the mood board and storyboard. Then, it is all about blending all elements to craft a picturesque mis-en-scene. For fashion portraiture, it’s the make-up, wardrobe, and the overall setting and colours in my images. For photo stories, I have to build intricate worlds through characters, colours, sets, and props. Finally, after multiple inspections and revisits, when I still find my work aesthetically appealing, that’s when I know it is finished..
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
As an artist, this beautiful world that we live in, full of vibrant colours and stories, is my greatest inspiration. My work is also profoundly influenced by my roots and my connection with them. I like telling stories close to home because relating to them gives me the biggest playground to create. A third factor that plays a part in impacting my work is any kind of imbalance in society. Because then, I wish to talk about it in a way that touches people and passes on a message of hope, love, and empathy. To know that I have created something, that will hopefully become a part of history and be remembered is a humbling and elating thought, and it helps me to keep going at the end of the day.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?
I honestly don’t think art can be so simply defined or segmented. Any genuine artist creates from the bottom of their heart and soul, so putting it into any bracket is not ideal for me. As long as artists are creating with their heart and soul, and staying true to the form, it is likely that the art they make will transcend all barriers, and somewhere in the process, become timeless. Even if the work of art ends up impacting a small bunch of consumers, it has done the magic it was made for. And for me, that is the bottom line– if your work inspires, moves, or changes even just a single person in a small way, it is a great piece of art.
What is the role of the artist today?
I believe that the artist’s role today is to recognise that people are consuming more art now than ever before, thanks to the power of the internet. More importantly, as responsible citizens, artists need to be mindful of what they are putting out into the world. Your art should be a relevant and breathing piece, born out of awareness. And when I talk about art in itself, I think every artwork should be a building block, thereby strengthening the world of art in its unique way. There is no stringent rule about what function it should have, but I encourage that your art evokes emotion. Even if you’re making art about something that’s dark and dreary, in the end, it should be a conversation starter or something that is able to stimulate feelings and help awaken one’s emotions from slumber.
The little boy from Hampi
The societal gambit: marriage over happiness
Holding on...
Congruence

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

Nyle Major

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Born 1983, New Zealand

Lives in: Auckland, New Zealand

Describe your art in 3 words: Traditional. Time. Timeless.

See More Work:  https://major-art.com/

Repulse - Oil on canvas 50 x 100 cm

"Realism is charming when it borrows a gleam of poetry from the imagination." - Sigfried Nettement quoting William Bouguereau, 1906

What themes does your work involve?
Classical realism is a driving force behind this painting. Coupled with a contemporary framework, the work is drawn from traditional inspiration & methods to replicate and expand on the 19th century French art movements, while using a theme familiar to traditional art.
Describe your creative process.
As with any new work, it spawns as an idea or concept, sometimes you can visualize an end product, sometimes you can't. A developmental process follows where composition and colour palette are worked out which goes a long way to illustrate what is expected in the final art work.These are usually conceived and created as a series of works, as I think it is important that they read well together and bounce off each other when being exhibited together. Therefore, there are usually elements present in these paintings which flow with other paintings in the same series. The paintings go through an underpainting process followed by a second pass. This is usually where a painting is complete, though extra work often goes into finishing it off to a high standard.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
Art is always something that has made sense to me. It just helps that a little technical aptitude has been learned to make it a strength. I'm inspired by the greats who came before us and the desire to replicate the harmony their paintings have. Artists such as William Bouguereau, Alma Tadema, and Gotfried Lindeaur. Being able to make art is a huge joy that has come from years of perseverance, and my art practice is now reaching a point where the work I have completed inspires the next one on its own merits.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?
Asking what good art is can be a touchy subject, as it is ultimately subjective.. The definition of art has morphed and changed so much in the last one hundred years. I have always believed that art requires time and skill in order be called 'art'. The end result needs to be able to provoke a reaction in the viewer- for better or worse, and whatever the idea is in the artwork that the artist is trying to convey- needs to be seen and understood by as many viewers as possible.
What is the role of the artist today?
The role of the artist hasn't changed in essence. It is to communicate an idea through (in this case), a visual means. How art is seen by others is where contemporary society has changed what an artist creates. As mentioned, I believe art requires a level of talent that sets them apart from everyone else, but the modern definition of art is a lot broader now than in the past. Therefore while art is to still communicate ideas & provoke reactions, contemporary art has diluted the intensity of those ideas, therefore making the art of the past more revered and inspiring.

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

Michael Herbert Dorn

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Born 1961, St. George's, Bermuda

Lives in: Kraainem, Belgium

Describe your art in 3 words: Post-contemporary art

See More Work:  www.michaelherbertdorn.com | Instagram@michael_herbert_dorn_artist

David's Oath of the Horatii (David's Le Serment des Horaces) - Oil on oil primed linen 140 x 110 cm

"The painting series entitled, SYLLOGY, combines "traditional European painting techniques" and intermedia elements including the use of digital mobile devices to view the exhibited paintings as "color-inverted" digital images. This new painting series appropriates "canonical" European paintings in order to create and vitalize a new context for art historical and contemporary representation."

What themes does your work involve?
One of several thematics involved in my work is a question regarding the fundamental truth value of the received historical records that are used to validate modern concepts of reality. A leading concept within my work is the singular idea that a metaphysical inversion has imprisoned all possible conceptions of reality. I use canonical representations of European history and mythology as a visual jumping-off point to set up conditions for a pictorial argument about the racialization of historical representation. But, the thematic of race is really just a primer.
Describe your creative process.
My process begins with a search for a suitable classical or canonical painting. Whenever possible, I do try to study the painting directly from life, making my own sketches and photographs during that session. However, COVID restrictions have made this nearly impossible. So, now I either purchase or locate free high-resolution images online. The images need to be high resolution. Using Photoshop, I'll make adjustments to the saturation, color temperature, and other image aspects. After this, I create the inverted image of the subject painting. I usually make one or two poster studies with the added figure. From the very begining of the process I am thinking about the placement of the additional figure. I use the "story" of the painting to help guide me.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?
Today, the artist's ability to actually engage their sensitivities with the events happening in the world are the primary measure of good, great, and worthless art. True art goes beyond self-expression or any financial interest.
About my current work, and what is the Post-contemporary?
I call myself a “post-contemporary” oil painter. What I mean by post-contemporary will become more apparent as I briefly describe my working processes. My current painting project takes a look back in art history. It appropriates (or expropriates—depending on one’s viewpoint) the view of a particular foundational oil painting of the early renaissance, northern renaissance, mannerism, baroque, or the neoclassical periods of art history, respectively. I use both religious and secular themed paintings. Using digital images of these paintings, I essentially recreate these “classical” works of art as color-inverted images—they appear as what used to be called a (film) “negative” in the commercial heyday of photographic films like Kodak, Fuji, and Ilford. But that’s not all. I have painted an additional figure within the negative field of these images—a so-called “racially-black” figure. I usually place this “interloper” figure within a pictorial space that appears to me to be inactive in the original paintings. This creates a new, two-way visual context.

My process begins with the search for a suitable “classical” painting. Whenever possible, I try to directly study and take high-resolution digital photographs of the actual painting. Museum visits have become nearly impossible with the manifestation of COVID-19. So, now I either purchase or locate free images online. Within Photoshop, I then make color adjustments to the image, including its color inversion. In addition to color inversion, I will sometimes alter the images overall color temperature, and in selected areas, the color saturation. After that, I will usually make one or more small freehand color “poster-studies” in oil paints to explore the color relationships and the composition. I carefully study the color relationships between the reconfigured and color-inverted oil painting and the virtual image captured on the mobile device’s screen. In these sketches, I include all aspects of the inverted “classical” painting and the added “non-color inverted” (color-positive) figure. Once I am satisfied, I will then make an underdrawing on my canvas using blue Staedtler Lumichrome drafting leads. I’ll then apply a very thin layer of semi-transparent titanium white and marble dust paint to the entire canvas. This scumble layer is referred to as a “half-paste.” This half- paste becomes what in the early Italian method is termed the campitura layer. Over the dry half-paste layer, I begin to apply my color upon the now faintly visible blue lines of the underpainting, modeling the forms as I go along. I work each section very close to the final finish, except the central background, which I’ll generally lay in during the final stages. Of course, this is a very fluid process, and it never follows—one-two-three—like I’ve just written.

Both my creative process and the ideological foundation of my project depends upon digital media. Of critical importance in this painting series is the spectator’s use of their digital mobile device to provide an active digitally color-inverted view of each of the paintings displayed within the actual exhibition space. Viewing an analog painting with the aid of a mobile digital-media device is explicitly a new way of encountering and extending a painting’s semantic potential by challenging the conventional notion of how we (traditionally) experience or view a “painting.”

This project came about as I began to explore and question the development of European and Eurocentric racial ideologies (namely, white-supremacy) that were concurrent with the development of many of the aforementioned art historical periods and many confluent Eurocentric philosophical systems. My current project also resonates with my questioning of how contemporary political, social, and cultural ideas interact with the plastic arts from the European past.

Some artists/writers might classify the post-contemporary as an aesthetic or a critical construct. But I am doubtful of the limiting framework of those terms. Other writers have called the post-contemporary a movement akin to the Baroque redux or Neoclassical redux. Not me. By post-contemporary, I do not mean the widely held consensus that post- contemporary artworks merely or mainly exhibit the traits of skillful execution, creativity, and expresses some degree of “empathy.” I would say that there are many works done by some of the most well trained and technically skilled artists in the world that are not post- contemporary. I’m afraid I also have to disagree that what is being called post-contemporary art is some newfangled way of positing traditional, global, or universal values—as opposed to contemporary art, which they claim pertain to transient (or spurious), topical, or local values.

For me, the post-contemporary artist holds a generous view upon all the myriad forms of what we call art history. By generous I mean two things. First, the totality of art history is taken as a barometer of both the global and national social, political, and cultural environment. Second, this generous view is taken as through a holographic lens. It is a view enabling a capacity towards moral imagination, that distinct quality of understanding (a work of art) within the general and specific context of its creation. Above all things, beyond this said specific context, the post-contemporary implementation proceeds as a form of inquiry into how historical (Eurocentric) visual culture has been used and is being used to inculcate, delineate, underscore, and establish the political, social, and cultural artifacts of our age. The post-contemporary artist is not at all interested in the so-called art historical tradition for the sake of hegemonic notions of tradition and the idea that “it was better back then.” The post contemporary artist understands that art history is foremost an ideological political field. For me, post-contemporary artists must make an in-depth inquiry into how the visually received narratives function within our contemporary milieux to create injustice, lies, and outright (psycho-cultural) deceptions. Within this post-contemporary sphere, my primary interest is in exploring and challenging the ideas fomented by the representation (or lack thereof) of non- white peoples in classical European art.

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

Luba

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"I paint directly from life, trying to create an interesting set-up with different objects. It is important to capture color harmony and a sense of movement. I draw my inspiration from the timeless work of the old masters. I truly believe it is never too late to be passionate about learning."

Swans - Oil on canvas 18 x 24 in.

Luba Stolper is a contemporary artist whose passion for art comes to life in oil paintings reminiscent of the Old Masters'. Born and raised in a small village in the Ukraine, Luba spent much of her childhood in nature, capturing her surroundings through drawing.

After moving to California, equipped with a keen eye for color and ascetics, Luba enrolled in The Fabric and Textile Design School in Berkeley, where many of her designs were featured in fashion magazines. As a self-taught artist seeking to enhance her ability, she studied for three years under the direction of artist Charles Becker. In 2015, Luba traveled to Florence to participate in an international workshop to deepen her knowledge of the intricacies of painting still life. With the desire to refine her skill, Luba has been training in the Academic Style at The Russian River Atelier under the guidance of masters Naomi Marino and Jay Blums who received their education at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence.

During the years 2014 to 2017, Lubaʼs collection of artwork could be seen at Art Encounter, a gallery in Las Vegas. She has been involved in art festivals in Sausalito and Calistoga, where her realistic portrayals received awards and rave reviews. Art expos in Miami and New York have hosted her paintings and she was featured in Artblend magazine. Luba has participated in workshops led by artist Qiang Huang from Texas and J. D. Hillberry from Colorado. Several patrons have commissioned her to create private paintings for their homes and she has many repeat buyers who appreciate her patience for observation and commitment to detail. Some of her paintings can be viewed in a private gallery and her collection is available online as well.

When she is not enjoying time with her family, Luba spends many hours in her home art studio, delving deep into her dedication to painting. She lives and works in Santa Rosa, California.

Coffee Pot - Oil on board 18 x 16 in.
Chalice and Lace - Oil on board 12 x 16 in.
Japanese Doll - Oil on board 16 x 14 in.
Vintage Lace - Oil on canvas 24 x 18 in.

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

 

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Svetlana Cameron

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"I am a classically trained portrait artist dedicated to the study and revival of Old Masters' drawing and painting methods."

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Svetlana Cameron is a Russian-born, British artist dedicated to the study and revival of traditional painting techniques. Trained in the methods of Old Masters, Cameron specializes in portraiture in the style of classical realism. She is best known for her official oil portraits and delicate life-like paintings of children in pastel.

Cameron's attention to detail and the ability to capture her sitter's personality have earned her a strong reputation as an international portrait painter. She holds the title of an Associate Living Master awarded by the Art Renewal Centre in the USA and was on Pastel Journal's Top 100 list of leading international pastel artists twice in 2016 and 2018. Cameron is an elected member of the British National Society of Graphic Fine Art (SGFA) and the National Pastel Society of Russia.

Svetlana Cameron has painted official portraits for a number of institutions in the UK: the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the Isle of Man Parliament, the Roman Catholic Church (Diocese of Liverpool), and the Church of England (Cathedral Isle of Man). Her works hang in private collections in England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Malta.

Svetlana Cameron lives on the south-eastern coast of England where she works out of her private studio near Hastings. A sought-after portrait painter, she travels across the UK and internationally to exhibit and meet her sitters.

Sophia - Pastel 45 x 35 cm
Radha - Oil 50 x 40 cm
Molly - Pastel 55 x 45 cm
Portrait of Richard Sowler - Oil 90 x 60 cm

See Svetlana Cameron on the Cover of Spotlight Magazine

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

 

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Jingfeng Li

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"The beauty of realistic pen-and-ink painting is that it uses just a black line to paint a rich and delicate picture. It presents a beauty of vicissitudes. I like the color of black, white and gray. Its deep, quiet yet noble quality profoundly attracts me."

Elves on the plateau - Ink pen on paper 73.18 x 44.2 cm

Chinese Artist, Jingfeng Li was born in 1965 in Anshan city, Liaoning Province, China and today lives in Beijing. His painstakingly realistic works are produced primarily with an ink pen. JingFeng Li graduated from Shenyang Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts and is a member of the American Portrait Society, a contractor of the Sena Art Gallery in France, and a representative painter of modern Chinese painting.

"I started drawing at the age of seven, perhaps a natural affinity; and have been long engaged with photography and painting. I began to work realistically with pen drawing in 2012. I have won many prizes in international drawing contests. Perhaps I was born like black and white and grey color, so choosing pen drawing is in line with my aesthetic. I like the real thing, it makes me really feel the sincerity and affinity of nature."

In Sunshine - Ink pen on paper 44 x 43 cm
Mountain village - Ink pen on paper 54.25 x 54.18 cm
Kejia Girl - Ink pen on paper 56 x 86 cm
Château de Selles No.4 - Ink pen on paper 54 x 54 cm

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

 

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Gerard Huber

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"My strategy is to employ beauty as a subversive instrument of seduction, a peacefully sensual way of drawing the viewer into a space that challenges heteronormative assumptions of male competition, and which demonstrates that same-sex relationships are wholesome, healthy and life-affirming."

Classical Figures X - Sub Rosa

Gerard Huber was born October 2, 1949, in Waterloo, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Painting and Printmaking, 1971. Following completion of undergraduate studies, Huber studied Figure Drawing and Contemporary Theology at the University of Notre Dame, 1971, and participated in the Blossom-Kent Art Program at Kent State University, 1973. Huber earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from Cranbrook Academy of Art, 1975, studying with George Ortman. 

In 1994 Huber received a Mid-America Arts Alliance/National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Painting. He has been a Resident Fellow at The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont (2008); twice at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Lynchburg, Virginia (1987, 1988); and once at the Cummington Community of Art, Cummington, Massachusetts (1988). Huber has been a Visiting Artist/Visiting Scholar at the American Academy in Rome, Rome, Italy, 2013 and 2015.

Huber’s airbrushed acrylic paintings have been exhibited in more than 60 exhibitions including the Joslyn Museum of Art, Omaha, Nebraska; the Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY; Parsons School of Design, New York, NY; Salmagundi Club, New York, NY; the Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, Arkansas; and many others. His paintings are represented by the Lizardi/Harp Gallery in Los Angeles, California.

Huber is a tenured professor in the Department of Art at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas (formerly East Texas State University).

His studio is located at 3500 Oak Lawn Avenue, #275 Dallas, Texas 75219

www.gerardhuber.com

gerardhuber33@gmail.com

(214) 528-5167

 

“Gorgeously painted voluptuous male figures are the protagonists in Gerard Huber's mesmerizing compositions. Perfectly rendered in a classical style the works bring Grecian ideals of beauty into a contemporary context.

In "Reflection I" Huber's own David is depicted among a variety of symbolic motifs cunningly placed to make it impossible for the viewer to evade the narrative.

Often literally in conversation with ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, the nude characters display a tenderness that comes in contrast with taboo expectations and stereotypic assumptions surrounding what it means to be a strong man. The brawny figures with every muscle and vain painted in exhaustive detail come to contrast with their gentle gestures and tranquil poses. These complex characters manage to exude power from their vulnerability as they seem comfortable and resolved with the combination of strength, power, softness, and emotionality they simultaneously represent.

What is significant in Huber's work is not his extraordinary capacity for realism but more importantly his ability to think and create in a post-modern context where the pieces become mesmerizing for the multiplicity and complexity of the content they evoke whether that is a conversation on art itself, on sexuality or the strong man etiquette.”

- Circle Foundation for the Arts, Director

Reflections I
Classical Figures II - Amplexus Aeternus
Classical Figures XI - Invidere
Classical Figures XII - Equa Noctis

This review was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

 

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