Figurative Paintings

Mixed media

The rich sense of contrast between green and red hues lends an energetic disposition to this pastoral scene. In combination with a rugged textual treatment, this work’s color and des...

This work was one of Long’s earliest compositions as an artist. Even earlier in his artistic career, Long was interested in exploring the intersection of various media, branching out into new innovative spaces. This work demonstrates the technique and forms at play that have since germinated into Long’s signature style. 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. "Untitled" 1978 Acrylic and Paper Collage on Canvas...

Barbara Friedman’s painting process is exploratory. She paints to discover and likes to be surprised by her work. She sometimes paints over her old paintings while retaining certain ...

Barbara Friedman’s painting process is exploratory. She paints to discover and likes to be surprised by her work. She sometimes paints over her old paintings while retaining certain ...

A Garden - naive art, primitivism, folk art made in red, green, blue, pink, yellow colors. Elena Narkevich deliberately chooses naive art, like the famous artists Henri Rousseau and Niko Pirosmani...

The Princess and the Pea - illustration naive art, made in pink, brown, blue, yellow colors. Elena Narkevich deliberately chooses naive art, like ...

The date - naive art, primitivism, folk art, made in red, pink, grey, brown, green, yellow colors. Elena Narkevich deliberately chooses naive art, like the famous artists Henri Rouss...

Ford Crull explore the expressive power of personal and cultural symbols in a series of densely painted and vividly colored compositions. He uses identifiable images such as hearts, ...

Sergio Valenzuela “Valenz” is a contemporary Guatemalan artist who tells stories with everyday objects, primarily expressing them with graphite and acrylic on canvas. His medium to l...

Donald Vogel’s paintings reflect his interest in seeking beauty in life and in sharing pleasure with his viewers. Vogel entreats us to "rejoice and celebrate each new day, knowing it...

Translated title: "Untitled (Compass)" Acrylic and pencil on sand and canvas.

A screen print on linen with diamond dust, executed in chartreuse and black, by contemporary artist Russell Young. "Marilyn Crying" depicts a ...

This piece was completed and published in "This Week Magazine" May 4, 1958 for an advetisment with "Post." The slogan reads in the magazine above the illustration: "Any Cereal my family leaves is first choise with me...as long as it's in Post-Tens" A vibrant depiction of a man from the 1950's with a bright yellow back ground seated...