For press information, contact: Courtney Kennedy or Nancy Eckhardt, 214.969.9410
In Major Exhibition of Recent Work, Pillsbury and Peters Fine Art of Dallas Unveils Sculpture by Renowned Texas Painter, Richard StoutOpening Friday, May 4 and extending through June 23, Richard Stout: In Pursuit of the Sublime surveys an important body of new work by one of Texas' most influential and widely admired contemporary artists. Longtime resident of Houston and a native of Beaumont, Stout recently embarked upon a career as a sculptor. The Dallas exhibition, which consists of thirteen major paintings accompanied by fourteen recent bronze sculptures, places on public view for the first time his impressive achievements in the field of sculpture.
In the catalogue that documents the exhibition, Dr. Edmund (Ted) Pillsbury writes, "Inspired by Giacometti, Ernst and other Surrealist works on view at the nearby Menil Collection but possessing an understanding of the powers of landscape that is almost mystical, Richard Stout stands apart. He is an artist of our time, but through his works he transports us to places near and far, making us appreciate the world in fresh ways and bringing a set of emotions into our experience of daily life that, albeit clouded in mystery, is both reassuring and uplifting. He is a worthy successor to his Romantic forebearers, Turner and Delacroix, whose goal superceded any traditional concept of beauty in favor of effects that can only be described as Sublime."
The new sculptures have a mystical quality. Small vessels—cups and skeletal ships—join with natural elements, such as leaves and twigs, to form what appear to be ritual objects. Yet they are imperfect: the cups are dinged and dented, ships lean precariously, their torn masts the only suggestion of motion. The highly-wrought textures absorb and reflect light and the silvered surfaces lend a delicacy, in addition to creating a shimmering, diffuse quality. Overall, these small sculptures conjure feelings of abandonment and nostalgia.
Mr. Stout's paintings are concerned with memory and fantasy. They include ambiguous imagery in which architectural elements fuse with the surrounding landscape and with vast expanses of water. The images are predominantly blue and possess a translucent quality providing hazy views of the sea, mountains, and receding pathways. Dramatic color, exaggerated perspective, and bold contrasts of tone combine to create a sense of awe and mystery.
Richard Stout was born in 1934. He received his B.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1957 and his M.F.A. in 1969 from University of Texas, Austin. For over twenty years, he served on the faculty of the University of Houston as a professor of painting, helping to establish the highest standards of art instruction in the region. Mr. Stout's one-person exhibitions span four decades, from 1958 to the present, and his work may be seen in various public collections, including Dallas Museum of Art; Kupferstichkabinett, Dresden, Germany; the Menil Collection, Houston; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the University of Houston.
Pillsbury and Peters Fine Art is located at 2913 Fairmount at the corner of Cedar Springs. The Gallery is open Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, and by appointment. For further information, contact the Gallery by telephone at 214-969-9410, by facsimile at 214-969-9023, or by e-mail at info@ppfineart.com. For further information on gallery activities and programs, visit the website at www.pillsburypetersfineart.com.
