Off The Easel: Recent Works by Otis Huband

W I L L I A M R E AV E S F I N E A R T P R E S E N T S :

Of f The Easel Re ce n t Wo rk s by O t i s Hu b a n d

OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 28, 2015

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Of f The Easel Re ce n t Wo rk s by O t i s Hu b a n d December 4 - 23, 2015

Exhibition Events Opening Reception: Saturday, December 5th, 6 - 8:30 p.m.

Artist Talk: Saturday, December 12th, 2 - 4 p.m.

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.

Huband’s Gift: Paintings that Speak for Themselves We’ve told you about Otis Huband before! We have explained that his distinctive form of figurative expressionism is resolutely fine and powerful. We have presented incredible examples of his finely worked paintings to ever-growing streams of admirers. Now, in this newest exhibition of Huband paintings, it is time to let the paintings do all the talking! And believe you me, these works speak volumes, clearly presenting stunning visual affirmation that at 81 years of age, Otis Huband ranks among the finest artists at work in Houston today!

In Off the Easel, eighteen spanking new Huband paintings command the walls of William Reaves Fine Art. Fresh from the artist’s easel, they exude all of the elegance and dynamism one expects from an “experienced” genius at work! It is truly a remarkable assemblage of new material, and completely worthy of our viewers’ time and effort.

By way of background, Otis Huband came to Houston from his native Virginia back in 1964. Besides painting actively and continuously since his arrival, Huband was also active as an art teacher at The Museum School of the Museum of Fine Arts (1967-71), and the Art League of Houston (1971-82), as well as intermittent adjunct roles at both Rice University and The University of Houston. In the 60s, he showed at Bute and DuBose galleries, with subsequent stints at Erdon and Louisana gallery. However, after 1982, Huband quietly walked away from the hubbub of the local gallery scene, choosing instead to concentrate on studio painting, which complied entirely with his own aesthetic and artistic sensibilities. As these works will attest, he has done quite well.

His works have always addressed the human spirit, which he has consistently conveyed though marvelously executed abstractions rife with color, form and figure. It is this emphasis on figurative subject matter which gives Huband his distinctive place in the annals of Houston art history, being one of the few professional artists to consistently explore the human figure in their art over time. His dramatic style of abstract painting has been described as “figurative expressionism”, in that his canvases contain dynamic force and energy, eloquently manifested through use of bold color and powerful stroke. The human experience bursts forth from Huband canvases, with spirited figures emerging and interacting, each coaxed skillfully by the artist’s hand, chiseled from vibrant, energetic overlays of rich paint. The characters he creates, as well as the exceptional character of his work are joys to behold.

For those who appreciate literate, substantive abstraction, Huband’s work will sorely appeal. As these selections attest, at 80, Huband is still very much alive; still growing and still cresting to new-found thresholds in an extraordinary artistic journey. Texas collectors with an eye for modernism should definitely make themselves a gift of this exhibition. Be prepared, however, for a rich and engaging dialogue with Huband’s amazing new statements in art, because, as I told you before, these paintings speak for themselves! Enjoy!

-William Reaves, Sarah Foltz & Mary Margaret Albritton

William Reaves Fine Art

• Off The Easel: Recent Works by Otis Huband • No.

Title of Work

Date

Medium

Size (inches)

1 An Immensity with Stars 2015 oil stick on canvas 42 x 60 2 An Opera of Sorts 2015 oil stick on canvas 43 x 60 3 Burnt Sienna Figures 2015 oil stick on canvas 43 x 60 4 Classic Space 2015 oil stick on canvas 43 x 65 5 Dozing Figure 2014 oil stick on canvas 44.5 x 32 6 Falling Creek, VA 2015 oil stick on canvas 43 x 60 7 Falling Creek, Virginia, 1941 2015 oil stick on canvas 43.5 x 60.5 8 Figures Outdoors 2015 oil stick on canvas 56 x 43 9 Landscape Vertical 2015 oil stick on canvas 53.5 x 35.25 10 Maria Selma’s Dream 2015 oil stick on canvas 36 x 50 11 Ruined Fresco 2014 oil stick on canvas 69.25 x 44.5 12 Ruth at the Shore 2015 oil stick on canvas 43 x 65 13 Secret Garden 1 2014 oil stick on canvas 55 x 42 14 Secret Garden 2 2014 oil stick on canvas 67 x 42 15 The River 2015 oil stick on canvas 62 x 40 16 Through a Window Gladly 2015 oil stick on canvas 57 x 43 17 Walking Away from It All 2015 oil stick on canvas 43 x 60

OTIS HUBAND

1. An Immensity with Stars, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 42 x 60 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

2. An Opera of Sorts, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 43 x 60 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

3. Burnt Sienna Figures, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 43 x 60 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

4. Classic Space, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 43 x 65 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

5. Dozing Figure, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 44.5 x 32 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

6. Falling Creek, VA, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 43 x 60 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

7. Falling Creek, Virginia, 1941, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 43.5 x 60.5 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

8. Figures Outdoors, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 56 x 43 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

9. Landscape Vertical, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 53.5 x 35.25 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

10. Maria Selma’s Dream, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 36 x 50 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

11. Ruined Fresco, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 69.25 x 44.5 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

12. Ruth at the Shore, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 43 x 65 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

13. Secret Garden 1, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 55 x 42 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

14. Secret Garden 2, 2014, oil stick on canvas, 67 x 42 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

15. The River, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 62 x 40 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

16. Through a Window Gladly, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 57 x 43 inches.

OTIS HUBAND

17. Walking Away from It All, 2015, oil stick on canvas, 43 x 60 inches.

About William Reaves Fine Art

H OUSTON’S T EXAS- C ENTERED G ALLERY William Reaves Fine Art, 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 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 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 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 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