Unknown

Untitled by Sikiu Mendez Samelnik

2023

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This precious work that is dedicated to Long’s first wife, Connie, who passed away from cancer, is an acrylic painting on canvas encapsulated in a custom, hand-made, plaster frame - characteristic of many classic Long works... Bert L. Long Jr., was self-taught artist, was born in 1940 in Texas, grew up the Houston’s historic Fifth Ward and received his formal education from UCLA. Following a career as a successful master chef, Long decided to devote himself entirely to art in the late 1970’s. He began to explore folk art and assemblage to create a unique body of work, attracting the attention of Jim Harithas, then Director of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and artists John Alexander, Salvatore Scarpitta and James Surls. His life spanned an era of radical change in the American social climate, the influence of which can be seen clearly in his work. Long’s paintings and sculptures incorporate a high level of skill and sophisticated knowledge of art history, along with complex philosophical and social issues.  Long describes the philosophy behind his work as "a quest to help people diagnose their inner self," believing his art to be "the vehicle to help facilitate the process." “As artists we have the obligation to provide the world with art which communicates as truth. I believe that art has the power to heal our souls of their afflictions. I try to create art which helps to diagnose the prevalent conditions within our societies, hopefully providing an insightfulness which will help us all become brothers and sisters united in equality and compassion”                                       - Bert L. Long, Jr. The late Peter Marzio, former Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, said of Bert Long during the major retrospective of Long’s work at the museum: “Bert Long does not avert his gaze from that which is painful, but as [his artworks] testify, he also brings a spirit of joy and redemption to his art. We can all learn from this great artist.” Over Long’s 33-year career as a painter, sculptor, and photographer, he had several solo exhibitions at respected museums and was awarded many significant awards including the National Endowment for the Arts Grant in 1987 and the prestigious international Prix de Rome fellowship in 1990. Other notable awards of Long’s include the Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts Artist of the Year Award in 2009, the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Assistance Grant in 1997, the Houston Art League Texas Artist of the Year in 1990, the NEA Visual Artists Fellowship Grant, 1987 and the Bemis Foundation Residency in 1998. His work can be seen in over 100 private and public collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Houston Museum of Fine Art, the Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, the El Paso Museum of Art, and the Instituto de Bachillerato in Spain. With a recent solo exhibition at the Houston Museum of African American Culture and an exhibition overseas which is pending featuring his work, plus interest from several national museums, Bert L. Long Jr. continues to be recognized as an important African American artist throughout Texas, nationally and internationally. Bert L. Long, Jr. "Dear" 1989 Acrylic on Canvas with Painted Plaster Frame...

Colorful abstract painting on panel made with mixed media acrylic, pigmented plaster, beeswax and marble dust on panel 20 x 16 inches with painted sides, ready to hang as is Vincen...

44 Horizon Lines, 2018 20" X 20" acrylic, pigmented plaster, and wax on canvas Ready to hang as is. Vincent Pomilio is master when it comes to color composition. His abstractions ...

acrylic, pigmented plaster, wax and marble dust on canvas Highly textured and vividly colored tableau notes from the artist: With these paintings I explore a means of finding ...

Modern, abstract mixed media painting on canvas in shades of bright teal, turquoise, yellow, and green 40 x 30 inches acrylic, pigmented plaster, wax on canvas Ready to hang as is. Vincent Pomilio is master when it comes to color composition. His abstractions on canvas and wood panel come to life with the most brilliant, yet unexpected color combinations. This mid century modern style abstract painting exemplifies Pomilio celebrated technique of combing vibrant shades of acrylic paint, pigmented plaster, and encaustic. The painting's complexity is made possible through the use of multiple layers of acrylic and plaster. Here the artist begins with an under-layer of teal acrylic paint and then sections off each cross hatching pattern in varying shades of pale yellow, purple, teal, green, and turquoise. Details of gestural splatters of green paint compliments the surface while a final coat of encaustic medium creates an elegant, matte finish. The sides of the abstract geometric painting are painted a dark royal blue, so no framing is necessary. The work is equipped with sturdy wire and is ready to hang. About the artist: Vincent Pomilio specializes in all painting media, canvas, paper and wooden panel. A visit to his studio in the bustling neighborhood of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village offers a unique insight into the artist’s process of his own art making. The right brain dominates here; skillful use of color, shape, line and scale are discovered via intuition, experimentation and quarter turns of the canvas. Pomilio has occupied this bohemian artist’s pad since his school days ended at New York University in 1978 and it is here that he continues to paint to this day. Abstractions of color explosions are harmoniously composed using a combination of acrylic, wax, pigmented plaster and marble dust to build up surfaces and introduce texture. “In the end, the challenge is to know when to stop,” says Pomilio. The result is a stunningly complex and layered composition of color that one could interpret as an aerial landscape view or motifs that resemble woven baskets. When it comes to abstractions, the artist rationalizes, “If you see it, it is there.” At one point in his career, Pomilio felt he was struggling to successfully produce small paintings using the scaled patterns that was common in his work. This prompted a new series - the Big-Little series – which encompasses a study of big images on a small scale. By introducing a degree of ‘minimalism’ he could explore color relationships while magnifying techniques used on larger canvases. The effect this project had on his work flow was one of renewed energy and confidence. He could complete a painting much quicker than with the larger canvases, allowing him to try various solutions and expel creative energy in a focused way. Earlier this year, he completed the 100th 12 x 12 inch painting in the series. This exhibit will feature #100 (as well as #99 and #98), highlighting other selections from this series in addition to select medium and larger paintings on canvas. Vincent Pomilio is represented by the seller based in Hudson, NY. EDUCATION 1973 Kutztown State University, Kutztown, PA, BFA - Painting 1976 New York University, NY, Graduate Studies - Painting 1976 TylerSchool of Art, Elkins Park, PA, Graduate Studies - Paint Selected SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2015 Paintings, Lemonade Stand...

Colorful abstract geometric painting in various shades of red, orange, green and blue, with accents of white, black, pink and light yellow "Partly Perpendicular", made by Hudson Vall...