Houston was already a hotbed of Abstract Expressionism when a young and aspiring Ibsen Espada moved here from his native Puerto Rico in the early 70s to study painting and printmaking at the museum’s Glassell School. There Espada prospered under the mentorship of Dorothy Hood and Dick Wray, two giants of the Houston art scene and preeminent stars with the Glassell’s instructional largess. Working first as an assistant to Hood and then subsequently as protégé to Wray, Espada applied personal genius and rich interactions with these grand Houston maestros to develop and refine a powerful personal style of abstract painting. Now well-established in his own right, this show considers Espada’s bold and energetic abstractions, presenting them for the first time in an artful dialogue with paintings and drawing of his distinguished mentors, Dorothy Hood and Dick Wray. The selection makes for a season-opening blockbuster, and brings out the best among all three of these Houston greats.
No.
Title of Work
Date
Medium
Size (inches)
IBSEN ESPADA Works On Canvas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Arqueangel 2015 mixed media on industrial canvas 48 x 36 Arsenal 2015 mixed media on industrial canvas 33.5 x 27.5 Avalanche 2015 mixed media on industrial canvas 24 x 24 Blended Force 2015 mixed media on canvas 36 x 30 Branded Souls 2016 mixed media on canvas 72 x 62 Chamber 2015 mixed media on industrial canvas 33.5 x 27.5 Circus Mass 2015 mixed media on canvas 36 x 30 Conductors 2015 mixed media on canvas 36 x 30 Forrester 2007 mixed media on canvas 30 x 28 Hidden Treasure 2016 mixed media on canvas 24 x 24 Lam (Oscillators) 2002 mixed media on canvas 60 x 48 Scavengers 2016 mixed media on canvas 27.5 x 33 Venice Anchor 2013 mixed media on industrial canvas 48 x 36
Works On Paper On Canvas 14 15 16 17
Emperor 2016 mixed media on paper on canvas 69 x 45 Fiesta Adentro 2010 mixed media on paper on canvas 39.25 x 52 Modern Quilt II 2000 mixed media on paper on canvas 60 x 48 Turquoise Memories 2008-2016 mixed media on paper on canvas 54.5 x 30.25
No.
Title of Work
Date
Medium
Size (inches)
Works On Paper 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Ancient Gestures 1998 mixed media on paper 30 x 30.5 Untitled 2014 mixed media on paper 35.75 x 27.75 Untitled c. 2014 mixed media on paper 31.5 x 37.5 Untitled Monochromatic Weave 1998/2002 mixed media on paper 25 x 25 Untitled (Monochromatic Center) c. 2014 mixed media on paper 29.5 x 39 Untitled (Pink & Purple Weaving) 1998 mixed media on paper 23.5 x 18.5 Untitled (Pink & Yellow Weaving) c. 1998 mixed media on paper 28 x 16 Untitled (Yellow Specks) 2014 mixed media on paper 29.5 x 38.5 Waier Freedom 2002 mixed media on paper 24 x 34
DOROTHY HOOD Works On Canvas 27 28 29 30
Auriaga 1988 oil on canvas 78 x 60 Campeche Dawn c. 1970 oil on canvas 48 x 36 Navajo - Diptych c. 1980 oil on canvas 54 x 30 (each) Noble Day and Noble Night oil on canvas 60 x 70
Works On Paper 31 32 33 34 35
Creating of the Wave c. 1965 ink on paper 20 x 26 Growing c. 1960 ink on paper 26 x 20 The Marriage Counselor 1962 ink on paper 26 x 20 Untitled c. 1965 ink on paper 26 x 20 Untitled (Owl) c. 1965 ink on paper 19.5 x 12.5
No.
Title of Work
Date
Medium
Size (inches)
DICK WRAY Works On Canvas 36 37 38 39
Untitled 1122 1994-95 oil on canvas 68 x 84 Untitled 1920 c. 1995 oil on canvas 68 x 84 Untitled 1356 (Orange Face) 1995 oil on canvas in artist’s frame 8 x 10; 15 x 17 Untitled 1400 (Red Green Face) 1992/1995 oil on canvas in artist’s frame 12 x 9; 17.5 x 14.75
Mixed Media On Canvas 40 Untitled 1120 1997 photo litho collage & oil on canvas 41 Untitled 1136 (Blue & Green) 2001 photo litho collage & oil on canvas 42 Untitled 1918 (Red) 2005 photo litho collage & oil on canvas mounted to board 43 Untitled 1933/1733 (Blue) c. 2004 photo litho collage & oil on canvas mounted to board 44 Untitled 1661 1995 photo litho collage & oil on canvas 45 Untitled 1549 1995 photo litho collage & oil on canvas
76 x 53 40 x 30 59.5 x 84 68 x 90 8 x 10; 13.25 x 15 8 x 10; 11 x 14
Works On Paper 46 47 48 49 50
Untitled 1980, Ed. 11/20 1995 etching with watercolor on paper 5x7 Untitled 1981, Ed. 9/20 1995 etching with watercolor on paper 5x7 Untitled 1256, Ed. 7/20 1995 etching with watercolor on paper 5x7 Untitled 1245, Ed. 6/20 1995 etching with watercolor on paper 5x7 Untitled (Crows) 1989 watercolor on paper 5.75 x 9
Works on Canvas
Ibsen Espada
1. Arqueangel, 2015, mixed media on industrial canvas, 48 x 36 inches.
Ibsen Espada
2. Arsenal, 2015, mixed media on industrial canvas, 33.5 x 27.5 inches.
Ibsen Espada
3. Avalanche, 2015, mixed media on industrial canvas, 24 x 24 inches.
Ibsen Espada
4. Blended Force, 2015, mixed media on canvas, 36 x 30 inches.
Ibsen Espada
5. Branded Souls, 2016, mixed media on canvas, 72 x 62 inches.
Ibsen Espada
6. Chamber, 2015, mixed media on industrial canvas, 33.5 x 27.5 inches.
Ibsen Espada
7. Circus Mass, 2015, mixed media on canvas, 36 x 30 inches.
Ibsen Espada
8. Conductors, 2015, mixed media on canvas, 36 x 30 inches.
Ibsen Espada
9. Forrester, 2007, mixed media on canvas, 30 x 28 inches.
Ibsen Espada
10. Hidden Treasure, 2016, mixed media on canvas, 24 x 24 inches.
Ibsen Espada
11. Lam (Oscillators), 2002, mixed media on canvas, 60 x 48 inches.
Ibsen Espada
12. Scavengers, 2016, mixed media on canvas, 27.5 x 33 inches.
Ibsen Espada
13. Venice Anchor, 2013, mixed media on industrial canvas, 48 x 36 inches.
Works on Paper
Ibsen Espada
14. Emperor, 2016, mixed media on paper on canvas, 69 x 45 inches.
Ibsen Espada
15. Fiesta Adentro, 2010, mixed media on paper on canvas, 39.25 x 52 inches.
Ibsen Espada
16. Modern Quilt II, 2000, mixed media on paper on canvas, 60 x 48 inches.
Ibsen Espada
17. Turquoise Memories, 2008-2016, mixed media on paper on canvas, 54.5 x 30.25 inches.
Mixed Media Works
Ibsen Espada
18. Ancient Gestures, 1998, mixed media on paper, 30 x 30.5 inches.
Ibsen Espada
19. Untitled, 2014, mixed media on paper, 35.75 x 27.75 inches.
Ibsen Espada
20. Untitled, c. 2014, mixed media on paper, 31.5 x 37.5 inches.
Ibsen Espada
21. Untitled Monochromatic Weave, 1998/2002, mixed media on paper, 25 x 25 inches.
Ibsen Espada
22. Untitled (Monochromatic Center), c. 2014, mixed media on paper, 29.5 x 39 inches.
Ibsen Espada
23. Untitled (Pink & Purple Weaving), 1998, mixed media on paper, 23.5 x 18.5 inches.
Ibsen Espada
24. Untitled (Pink & Yellow Weaving), c. 1998, mixed media on paper, 28 x 16 inches.
Ibsen Espada
25. Untitled (Yellow Specks), 2014, mixed media on paper, 29.5 x 38.5 inches.
Ibsen Espada
26. Waier Freedom, 2002, mixed media on paper, 24 x 34 inches.
"The real difference between the student and the teacher is knowing when to stop."
Works on Canvas
Dorothy Hood
27. Auriaga, 1988, oil on canvas, 78 x 60 inches.
Dorothy Hood
28. Campeche Dawn, c. 1970, oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches.
Dorothy Hood
29. Navajo - Diptych, c. 1980, oil on canvas, 54 x 30 (each) inches.
Dorothy Hood
30. Noble Day and Noble Night, oil on canvas, 60 x 70 inches.
Works on Paper
Dorothy Hood
31. Creating of the Wave, c. 1965, ink on paper, 20 x 26 inches.
Dorothy Hood
32. Growing, c. 1960, ink on paper, 26 x 20 inches.
Dorothy Hood
33. The Marriage Counselor, 1962, ink on paper, 26 x 20 inches.
Dorothy Hood
34. Untitled, c. 1965, ink on paper, 26 x 20 inches.
Dorothy Hood
35. Untitled (Owl), c. 1965, ink on paper, 19.5 x 12.5 inches.
"What we know of the infinite is a flash of convergent opposites - when the night opens our knowledge of the growing soul through dreams, when the seed grows as its own self from the cold sod of winter, tears which nourish a balance, the noise of the mid-day sun; this expansion and meeting, separating and uniting is the being of art and religion..."
Works on Canvas
Dick Wray
36. Untitled 1122, 1994-95, oil on canvas, 68 x 84
Dick Wray
37. Untitled 1920, c. 1995, oil on canvas, 68 x 84
Dick Wray
38. Untitled 1356 (Orange Face), 1995, oil on canvas in artist's frame, 8 x 10; 15 x 17
Dick Wray
39. Untitled 1400 (Red Green Face), 1992/1995, oil on canvas in artist's frame, 12 x 9; 17.5 x 14.75
Mixed Media Works
Dick Wray
40. Untitled 1120, 1997, photo litho collage & oil on canvas, 76 x 53
Dick Wray
41. Untitled 1136 (Blue & Green), 2001, photo litho collage & oil on canvas, 40 x 30
Dick Wray
42. Untitled 1918 (Red), 2005, photo litho collage & oil on canvas mounted to board, 59.5 x 84
Dick Wray
43. Untitled 1933/1733 (Blue), c. 2004, photo litho collage & oil on canvas mounted to board, 68 x 90
Dick Wray
44. Untitled 1661, 1995, photo litho collage & oil on canvas, 8 x 10; 13.25 x 15
Dick Wray
45. Untitled 1549, 1995, photo litho collage & oil on canvas, 8 x 10; 11 x 14
Works on Paper
Dick Wray
46. Untitled 1980, Ed. 11/20, 1995, etching with watercolor on paper, 5 x 7 pl; 10 x 12 p; 21 x 22 fr
Dick Wray
47. Untitled 1981, Ed. 9/20, 1995, etching with watercolor on paper, 5 x 7; 10 x 12; 21 x 22
Dick Wray
48. Untitled 1256, Ed. 7/20, 1995, etching with watercolor on paper, 5 x 7; 10 x 12; 21 x 22
Dick Wray
49. Untitled 1245, Ed. 6/20, 1995, etching with watercolor on paper, 5 x 7; 10 x 12; 21 x 22
Dick Wray
50. Untitled (Crows), 1989, watercolor on paper, 5.75 x 9
"If it is worth doing, it is worth overdoing. Don't be passive as an artist and a human being. Make a live and living response to life."
About William Reaves | Sarah Foltz Fine Art
H OUSTON’S T EXAS- C ENTERED G ALLERY
William Reaves | Sarah Foltz Fine Art, originally established in 2006 in Houston, Texas, is dedicated to the promotion of
premier Texas artists of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, focusing particularly on historically significant artists active in the state during the period of 1900‒1975.
The gallery showcases many of the state’s most accomplished and recognized talents, all of whom have significant
connections to Texas and have evidenced the highest standards of quality in their work, training, and professionalism. In addition to its general focus on Early Texas Art, the gallery places special emphasis on the rediscovery and presentation
of midcentury works by Houston and South Texas artists. William Reaves | Sarah Foltz Fine Art is the foremost provider of
Texas Modern Art, which includes midcentury masters and pioneering expressionists working in the state. The gallery also
represents a dynamic group of contemporary artists, known as the Contemporary Texas Regionalists, actively showing their works in annual gallery exhibitions as well as traveling exhibitions throughout the state.
William Reaves | Sarah Foltz Fine Art is a comprehensive gallery offering fine art appraisals, consultation, collections
management, brokerage, and sales services. The gallery exhibits artists working in a variety of media including painting, sculpture, works on paper, and photography. In order to promote interest and broaden knowledge of earlier Texas art,
William Reaves | Sarah Foltz Fine Art supports related gallery talks, community events, scholarly research, and publications. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm and other times by appointment.
Gallery Contacts:
William Reaves, President william@reavesart.com
Sarah Foltz, Director sarah@reavesart.com