Mythic Faces & Figures JAMES McNEILL MESPLÉ
MEMORY
2014
Oil and egg tempera on canvas. 60 µ 36 in.
BEETHOVEN’S APOTHEOSIS Oil on canvas. 60 µ 36 in.
2012
IRIS TOTEM
2012
Oil and acrylic on canvas. Diptych, 108 µ 36 in.
JOURNEY
2009
Oil on canvas. 48 µ 48 in.
IRIS BRIDGE TO THE GOLDEN AGE Oil on canvas. 24 µ 48 in.
2012
DOUBLE VENUS
2012–2014
Oil and egg tempera on canvas. 40 µ 30 in.
GEMINI
2012–2014
Oil and egg tempera on canvas. 40 µ 30 in.
BUFFALO DREAMS
2006
Oil on canvas. 36 µ 48 in.
ICONIC NATURE
2012
Oil on canvas. 36 µ 60 in.
SPRING BREEZES
2014
Oil on canvas. 48 µ 60 in.
TULIPOMANIA
2012
Oil on canvas. 36 µ 48 in.
APOLLO’S TOUCH
2012
Oil on canvas. 48 µ 36 in.
OTHELLO AND DESDEMONA
2012
Oil and egg tempera on canvas. 48 µ 36 in.
HERA CHANGING CHANNELS
1999
Oil and egg tempera on panel. 29 µ 26 in.
HERE AND PARADISE Oil on canvas. 30 µ 40 in.
2010
ART MONEY
2011
Watercolor, gouache and carbon on paper. 11O µ 16K in.
CHICAGO CLASSICS
2011
Watercolor and gouache on paper. 11O µ 16K in.
CHICAGO DREAMS Oil on canvas. 59 µ 47 in.
PRAIRIE VENUS
2005
Oil on canvas. 49 µ 37 in.
2008
JAMES McNEILL MESPLÉ
J
AMES MESPLÉ first visited
on his paintings, which have been
Chicago in 1963, at the age of
showcased in numerous exhibitions
fifteen, and knew immediately
both locally and nationally. His
that he wanted to live there and
work is in many public and private collections.
make his art. Mesplé attended the University of Missouri in Columbia,
His art has been included in
and studied painting for two years
exhibitions at the following museums
with Fred Shane. Through Shane
and art centers: The Illinois State
he met Thomas Hart Benton, who
Museum galleries in Springfield,
introduced him to the “mixed
Chicago, Lockport, and Rend Lake;
technique” – a painting technique
the Block Museum of Northwestern
that combines egg tempera and
University; Oriental Institute of
oil paint. In 1968, at the age of
the University of Chicago; Chicago
nineteen, Mesplé moved to Chicago.
Cultural Center; Hyde Park Art
After graduating with honors from
Center, Chicago; the Schingoethe
Northeastern Illinois University in
Center for Native American Cultures,
December 1970, he began teaching
Aurora, IL; Koehnline Museum of
art at Chicago’s Francis W. Parker
Art, Des Plaines, IL; Rockford Art
School. While teaching at Parker, he returned to his study of painting
Museum, Rockford, IL; Madden INDIAN PAINTBRUSH
2014
Oil on canvas. 48 µ 36 in.
under Karl Wirsum at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).
Arts Center, Decatur, IL; Fine Arts Center, Bowling Green State University, OH; Brauer Museum
He also became a part-time instructor in the SAIC Studios
of Art, Valparaiso, IN; San Jose Institute of Contemporary
Program. In 1987, Mesplé received critical acclaim for his
Art, San Jose, CA; Luther Seminary, Minneapolis, MN;
sets for Chicago!, a ballet commissioned by Maria Tallchief’s
MOBIA Museum of Biblical Art, New York; Queens Museum,
Chicago City Ballet to celebrate the sesquicentennial birthday
New York.
of Chicago’s incorporation as a city. The world premier was September 25, 1987 in the Chicago Theatre on State Street.
In 2000, he created an illustration for Stephen Schwartz’s new songbook, The Hardest Part of Love. In 2009, Elise
Over the years, Mesplé taught egg tempera workshops
Paschen commissioned him to create a painting for the cover
at Midway Studios, University of Chicago; North Central
of her new book of poems, Bestiary (Red Hen Press), which
College; the BASIC Program (advanced studies for art
reflects her Osage heritage. Mesplé’s next solo exhibition,
teachers) at SAIC; and to Ed Paschke’s graduate students at
entitled “Muse,” will open in September 2014 at Printworks
Northwestern University. Since 1981, he has worked full-time
Gallery, Chicago.
Front Cover: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM 2012 Oil and egg tempera on canvas. 48 µ 36 in.
RENAISSANCE COURT GALLERY | CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER | JUNE 26–AUGUST 17, 2014 CATALOG: ROBERT SALM ©201 4 JAMES M C NEILL MESPLÉ JAMESMESPLE@YAHOO.COM | FACEBOOK.COM/JAMESMESPLE