Out of the Box: Figurative Expressionism with Otis Huband
Wi l l i a m Re ave s F i n e A r t
Out of the Box: Figurative Expressionism With Otis Huband August 15, 2015
YOU’RE INVITED Please Join William Reaves Fine Art for
Out of the Box: Figurative Expressionism With Otis Huband A special pop-up exhibition and uncrating party New Work by “Figurative Expressionist” Artist Otis Huband
Saturday, August 15th from 2-4pm One-Day Show and Sale Artist in attendance. Summery lite bites and libations
First 50 attendees will receive a special gift from the artist and gallery. William Reaves Fine Art | 2143 Westheimer Road | Houston, Texas 77098 | 713.521.7500 Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm and by appointment, please call 713.521.7500 or email info@reavesart.com.
Out of the Box: Figurative Expressionism with Otis Huband In Out of the Box: Figurative Expressionism with Otis Huband, we invite patrons to join us (and the artist) for a celebratory uncrating party offering a festive summer pop-up event with looks at new paintings by an acknowledged Houston Master. The newest installment of Huband paintings arrive at William Reaves Fine Art on Saturday, August 15th, and from 2-4 pm, and that afternoon our guests will join us in first glimpses of this exciting new cache of work. Accompanied with “summery” beverages and lite bites, we’ll remove them directly from the shipping boxes, unstretched and “hot” off the artist’s prolific easel. The artist will be on-hand to lend his personal critique, so all adds up to be an immensely exciting and energetic way to view great art. Expect great fun! Huband is a transplanted Virginian (B.F.A. and M.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth) who moved to the Bayou City in 1964. Besides painting actively, continuously and beautifully since his arrival, Huband was also active as a teacher at the Museum School (196771) and the Art League of Houston (1971-82), as well as holding adjunct assignments at both Rice University and The University of Houston. Early on, the artist exhibited around town at Bute Gallery (subsequently DuBose Gallery), as well as Erdon and Louisiana galleries. However, around 1982 Huband quietly walked away from the hubbub of the local gallery scene, choosing instead to concentrate on his studio painting. During this time, he developed his unique aesthetic and artistic sensibilities, as his stunning works will attest. Huband’s works have always addressed the human spirit, which he conveys in marvelously executed abstractions rife with color, form and figure. Indeed, it is his emphasis on figurative subject matter that gives him a distinctive place within Houston’s art history, being one of the few professional artists to consistently explore the human figure in art. His dramatic style of abstract painting has been characterized as “figurative expressionism,” in that his canvases contain dynamic force and energy, eloquently manifested through the use of bold
colors and powerful strokes. With raucous colors and barrages of bold brushwork, the human experience bursts forth from Huband canvases. Spirited figures emerge and interact within his paintings, skillfully coaxed by the artist’s expert hand from frenetic overlays of paint. His works are a joy to behold – especially as they emerge dormant from their crates, and glorify the gallery spaces for the first time! In this serendipitous Out of the Box format, we share with patrons the special joy that comes with encountering new art works for the first time. The uncrating format also affords patrons a unique buying opportunity to acquire incredible paintings, unstretched and unframed, at pre-exhibition prices! All in all, it promises to be one of the most unique and notable art experiences to come along in Houston, Texas in a very long while; and certainly is a date to make! In their review of Otis Huband’s retrospective exhibition four years ago, Culture Map heralded Otis as “the greatest Texas artist you’ve never heard of.” We couldn’t have agreed more! Unlike Culture Map’s observations back then, Huband has now reemerged as a prime-time painter that art savvy Texans have definitely heard more about! The paintings from Out of the Box will only serve to reinforce Huband’s growing legacy, and are guaranteed to captivate patrons with their exceptional qualities. Thus, we urge our Texas aficionados to attend this unique uncrating show and sale, and to “take in” Otis Huband’s incredible work, remembering that as you do you are viewing paintings by one of the state’s foremost figurative artists. We’re betting you’ll be inspired to take one (or more) home! See you there. William Reaves William Reaves Fine Art
Otis Huband • July 10 - Aug 8, 2015 No.
Artist
Title of Work
Date
1
Otis Huband
Blue Shadows 2014 oil stick on canvas 42 x 31
2
Otis Huband
Decorative Panel
3
Otis Huband
Deep Water 1 2013 oil stick on canvas 56 x 43.5
4
Otis Huband
Deep Water 2 2014 oil stick on canvas 52.5 x 37
5
Otis Huband
Dozing Figure 2014 oil stick on canvas 44.5 x 32
6
Otis Huband
Dream with Potted Plant
7
Otis Huband
Elysian Fields 2014 oil stick on canvas 49 x 40
8
Otis Huband
Exit Left
9
Otis Huband
Family Group 2013 oil stick on canvas 55.5 x 44
10
Otis Huband
Figures in Immensity (Night Scene)
2014
oil stick on canvas
42 x 31
11
Otis Huband
Fish Binders Window
2013-2015
oil stick on canvas
55.5 x 42
12
Otis Huband
Folded Answers
2012
oil stick on canvas
62.25 x 40
13
Otis Huband
Myopia 2012 oil stick on canvas 57 x 43.5
14
Otis Huband
Night Pool 2014 oil stick on canvas 55 x 42
15
Otis Huband
Pink Sand 2013 oil stick on canvas 55 x 44
16
Otis Huband
Right Entry
2014
oil stick on canvas
66.5 x 45
17
Otis Huband
Ruined Fresco
2014
oil stick on canvas
69.25 x 44.5
18
Otis Huband
the bed, the chair, the table
2014
oil stick on canvas
55 x 41
19
Otis Huband
Vageries
c. 2014
oil stick on canvas
70 x 39.5
20
Otis Huband
Woman Seated 2014 oil stick on canvas 41 x 32
2015
2014
2012-2013
Medium
oil stick on canvas
oil stick on canvas
oil stick on canvas
Size (inches)
56 x 43
55 x 42
56 x 43
1. Otis Huband, Blue Shadows, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 42 x 31 inches.
2. Otis Huband, Decorative Panel, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 56 x 43 inches.
3. Otis Huband, Deep Water 1, 2013, oil stick on canvas, 56 x 43.5 inches.
4. Otis Huband, Deep Water 2, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 52.5 x 37 inches.
5. Otis Huband, Dozing Figure, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 44.5 x 32 inches.
6. Otis Huband, Dream with Potted Plant, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 55 x 42 inches.
7. Otis Huband, Elysian Fields, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 49 x 40 inches.
8. Otis Huband, Exit Left, 2012-2013, oil stick on canvas, 56 x 43 inches.
9. Otis Huband, Family Group, 2013, oil stick on canvas, 55.5 x 44 inches.
10. Otis Huband, Figures in Immensity (Night Scene), 2014, oil stick on canvas, 42 x 31 inches.
11. Otis Huband, Fish Binders Window, 2013-2015, oil stick on canvas, 55.5 x 42 inches.
12. Otis Huband, Folded Answers, 2012, oil stick on canvas, 62.25 x 40 inches.
13. Otis Huband, Myopia, 2012, oil stick on canvas, 57 x 43.5 inches.
14. Otis Huband, Night Pool, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 55 x 42 inches.
15. Otis Huband, Pink Sand, 2013, oil stick on canvas, 55 x 44 inches.
16. Otis Huband, Right Entry, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 66.5 x 45 inches.
17. Otis Huband, Ruined Fresco, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 69.25 x 44.5 inches.
18. Otis Huband, the bed, the chair, the table, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 55 x 41 inches.
19. Otis Huband, Vageries, c. 2014, oil stick on canvas, 70 x 39.5 inches.
20. Otis Huband, Woman Seated, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 41 x 32 inches.
OTIS DARE HUBAND, JR. (b. 1933) Otis Huband was born in 1933 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He studied art at Virginia Commonwealth University and, after a tour of duty in the Navy, attended the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. He returned to complete both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Virginia Commonwealth University and then travelled to Italy to study at the Academia de Bella Arta in Perugia. Huband returned from Europe in 1964 and moved to Houston the following year. Upon his arrival, he bypassed the local gallery scene by choice, opting instead to concentrate most of his time in his studio. In addition, he also worked as an art instructor at the University of Houston, the Museum (now Glassell) School of Art, Rice University, and the Art League of Houston. Biographical and Career Highlights • 1933 Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia • 1955–56 Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William & Mary (now the Virginia Commonwealth University), Richmond, Virginia • 1956–57 Ventura Junior College, Ventura, California • 1957–58 California College of Arts & Crafts, Oakland, California • 1958–61 BFA and MFA, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia • 1963–64 Accademia di Bella Arti, Perugia, Italy • 1967–71 Instructor, Museum School (now Glassell School), Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas • 1967–72 Instructor, summer school for high school students, Rice University, Houston, Texas • 1971–82 Instructor, Art League of Houston, Texas • 1975 Instructor, Life Drawing, University of Houston, Texas • Resides in Houston, Texas Selected Exhibitions • 1957 Solo, Studio Gallery, Oakland, California • 1956 Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, Virginia • 1958–61 Pyramid Gallery, Richmond, Virginia • 1960 Solo, Erick Schendler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia • 1961 Solo, 20th Century Gallery, Williamsburg, Virginia • 1963–64 Udinotti Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona • 1964 Solo, Circolo di Universita, Perugia, Italy • 1965 Solo, Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, Lynchburg, Virginia • 1965 Solo, Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee • 1965 Solo, Wisconsin State College, River Falls, Virginia • 1965–66 James Bute Gallery, Houston, Texas • 1966–67, Dubose Gallery, Houston, Texas • 1966–70, Erdon Gallery, Houston, Texas • 1966–70 Frederick Nila Gallery, Longview, Texas • 1968 Sol del Rio, San Antonio, Texas • 1968–70 Cascade Gallery, Eugenia, Oregon • 1972–90, Louisiana Gallery, Houston, Texas • 1974 University of Houston, Downtown, Houston, Texas • 1975 Faculty Exhibition, University of Houston, Texas • 1976 Solo, Ars Longa Gallery, Houston, Texas • 1976 Solo, University of Houston Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
• 1989 Solo, Goethe Institute, Houston, Texas • 1993 Solo, Print Museum, Houston, Texas • 2010 The Texas Aesthetic: Contemporary Texas Regionalism, Annual Exhibition, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2010 The Figurative Revelations of Otis Huband: A Fifty Year Retrospective, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2010 Texas Collages: A Tribute to Kurt Schwitters, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2011 Lone Star Modernism: A Celebration of Mid-Century Texas Art, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2011 Breakthrough: Sixty Years of Texas Abstraction, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2011 Otis Huband: Recent Works, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2012 A Survey of Texas Modernists, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2012 Texas Expressionism, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2013 Paths to Abstraction: Paintings by Otis Huband and Jim Woodson, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2013 Lives Played Out on Canvas: Paintings by Otis Huband, Richard Stout, and Dick Wray, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2014 Houston Founders at City Hall Art Exhibition, City Hall, Houston, Texas • 2014 Solo, Figuratively Speaking: Paintings & Collages by Otis Huband, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2014 Lone Star Masters of Modernism, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston, Texas • 2015 Bayou City Chic: Progressive Streams of Modern Art in Houston, Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas (catalogue) Selected Public Collections • Giacomo Colderone, Perugia, Italy • Houston Grand Opera, Rigoletto painting for cover, Houston, Texas • Merrill Lynch, Exploration & Development Department, Houston, Texas • Mitchell Energy and Development Corporations, Houston, Texas Selected Sources Artist
About William Reaves Fine Art
H OUSTON’S T EXAS- C ENTERED G ALLERY William Reaves Fine Art, established 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. Now beginning its ninth year, the gallery showcases many of the region’s most accomplished and recognized talents, all of whom have significant connection to the state of Texas and have evidenced the highest standards of quality in their work, training, and professionalism in the field. The gallery exhibits artists working in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, works on paper, and photography. In addition to its general focus on Early Texas Art, the gallery places special emphasis on the rediscovery and presentation of early and mid-century works by Houston and South Texas artists. William Reaves Fine Art is the foremost provider of Texas Modern Art, which includes mid-century masters and pioneering expressionists working in the state. In order to promote interest and broaden knowledge of earlier Texas art, the gallery supports related gallery talks, community events, scholarly research, and publication related to its subject, artist, and period. William Reaves Fine Art 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. Most recently, The Houston Press voted William Reaves Fine Art Houston’s Best Art Gallery for 2013. Additionally, William Reaves Fine Art is a comprehensive gallery offering fine art appraisals, consultation, brokerage, and sales services. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm and other times by appointment. Gallery Contact: Sarah Foltz, Director sarah@reavesart.com
William Reaves Fine Art 2143 Westheimer Road • Houston, Texas • 77098 • www.reavesart.com Tel : 713.521.7500 • Contact : INFO@reavesart.com