Deborah Colton Gallery Figurative Paintings
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"Other/Brotherhood, " Acrylic and Charcoal Mixed Media Painting on Paper
Located in Houston, TX
This colorful artwork is one in a series of studies leading up to Long’s major ice sculpture installation Other in May of 2000.
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, Bert Long...
Category
1990s Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Materials
Paper, Charcoal, Acrylic
"A Good Witch, " Acrylic and Charcoal Mixed Media Painting on Paper in Wood Frame
Located in Houston, TX
Certainly one of Bert Long’s more humorous artworks, "A Good Witch" exemplifies affection for sincerity, despite obvious levity.
Bert L. Long Jr., was self...
Category
1990s Folk Art Figurative Paintings
Materials
Paper, Charcoal, Acrylic
"Untitled" Oil on Paper, Figurative Drawing, Symbolist Art, Indian Artist
Located in Houston, TX
This minimalist oil painting on paper is part of a series, which references a mantra of Amita Bhatt’s, “life is a circus.” Floating in space, the characte...
Category
2010s Symbolist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Oil
"Untitled, " Oil on Paper - Figurative Drawing, Symbolist Art, Indian Artist
Located in Houston, TX
This minimalist oil painting on paper is part of a series, which references a mantra of Bhatt’s, “life is a circus.” Floating in space, the characters portrayed in this work play out their roles, while remaining unaware of the full scope of their surroundings.
Amita Bhatt...
Category
2010s Symbolist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Oil
"Untitled, " Oil on Paper - Figurative Drawing, Indian Artist, Symbolist Art
Located in Houston, TX
This minimalist oil painting on paper is part of a series, which references a mantra of Amita Bhatt’s, “life is a circus.” Floating in space, the characte...
Category
2010s Symbolist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Oil
"300 Yards and a Bullet. That's all I need!, " Graphite and Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Houston, TX
This graphite and acrylic painting on canvas is from a series called "Lovers and Assassins." Here you can see Bhatt playing with the idea of seduction, self-sacrifice, persecution, b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Graphite, Canvas
"In Death Shall We Meet?" Graphite and Acrylic on Canvas, Symbolism, Indian Art
Located in Houston, TX
This graphite and acrylic painting on canvas is from a series called "Lovers and Assassins." Here you can see Bhatt playing with the idea of seduction, self-sacrifice, persecution, b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Graphite, Canvas
"Be Born From Me #1, " Graphite and Acrylic on Canvas, Symbolism, Indian Artist
Located in Houston, TX
This graphite and acrylic painting on canvas is from a series called "Lovers and Assassins." Here you can see Bhatt playing with the idea of seduction, self-sacrifice, persecution, belief systems, and radicalization.
Amita Bhatt received her BFA from the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, India and her MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, Maryland. Bhatt’s work has been exhibited at noteworthy venues such as the Bluestar Contemporary Art Center, Walters Art Museum, The Station Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Project Row Houses, all in the United States as well as Museo Pedro de Osma in Peru. Amita Bhatt has also been the recipient of several prestigious awards and recently served as a Grant Panelist on the National Endowment for the Arts. Bhatt's works are included in many important private and public collections.
Bhatt digs deep into world philosophies and mythologies to answer questions pertaining to our political as well as personal belief systems. Unafraid to explore uncomfortable territories, Amita mines from a range of sources to create hybrid creatures that are often symbolic of man’s psychological condition in an angst-ridden zeitgeist.
In exploring issues of identity and violence, Bhatt’s research led her to the beginnings of mankind. Most ancient creation myths claim chaos to be the central truth marking the beginnings of the world. Should turbulence then be viewed as essential to new beginnings? Bhatt’s characters are packed with irony, humor and indifference, and navigate intense color fields, all in search of wisdom and truth. They mirror the tumultuous times we live in, yet they know that there are deep Karmic mysteries that need to be understood and that HOPE in the end is what will sustain them.
Amita Bhatt
"Be Born From...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Graphite, Canvas
Tat Tvam Asi - You Are Me, Graphite and Acrylic on Canvas, Symbolism, Indian Art
Located in Houston, TX
This graphite and acrylic painting on canvas is from a series called "Lovers and Assassins." Here you can see Bhatt playing with the idea of seduction, self-sacrifice, persecution, belief systems, and radicalization.
Amita Bhatt...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Symbolist Mixed Media
Materials
Acrylic, Graphite, Canvas
"Untitled, " Oil, Mixed Media on Canvas - Abstract painting
By Dick Wray
Located in Houston, TX
This work, although understated in comparison to other works of Wrays, reflects the abstract expressionist’s devotion to freedom of expression, both in form and color, and his intere...
Category
1990s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings
Materials
Mixed Media, Oil, Canvas
"The History of Painting #1, " Acrylic on Canvas - Abstract painting
Located in Houston, TX
This work is an intense and colorful acrylic painting on canvas. All content remains entirely non-objective, emphasizing color and movement as the primary aspects of this wild and energetic composition.
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.
"The History of Painting...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
"Greedy Crows, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Vibrant and highly dynamic, this work’s use of color and form aids the arrangement of the subject matter into an energetic display of levity and beauty. Bolstered by a strong use of ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Eyes of the Bayou, " Oil on Board - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Vibrant, yet also subdued, this work’s use of color and line imbue ordinary subject matter with an uplifting sense of levity and beauty. Bolstered by a strong use of abstract elements and impressionist techniques, this oil on canvas painting is an excellent example of Chambers’ unique stylistic blend.
Chambers transforms the pastoral into the extraordinary. Long before she puts paint to a canvas, her artistic
process begins with the simple act of paying attention. From the outside looking in, she observes often overlooked
aspects of life to discover an otherwise unseen beauty in the ordinary.
Her paintings are vibrant compositions of color. She works in two distinct palettes, one bright the other subdued,
each containing an incredible diversity of hue and value. Her insistence on variety furthers the idea that everything
contains its own unique beauty, if only you stop to notice. Chambers skillfully uses lines and shapes to both break
up the vibrancy of the canvas and to imbue her compositions with a narrative power. The line work introduces a
tension to the color as the objects of her focus appear to pop and the details of each scene defiantly catch the
viewer’s impatient eye. It is in this way that her paintings elevate above mere depiction to offer a lesson in the
observation of art.
Each painting has strong elements of abstract and impressionist techniques, as well as drawn forms that are
cartoon like in character. The blend of the two adds dimension to the flat surface and provides visual anchors in
the midst of the cacophony of color.
Based in Belleville, Texas, Chambers is a “Texas Big 10 for Art” prize winner at KCAM, a recipient of the “Silver
Award” from Art Forward, and the “Alexander Rutsch Painting Award” from the Pelham Art Center.
Chambers’ art has been featured in numerous shows in galleries across the United States, including Houston,
Lexington, Palm Beach, and New York. Select exhibitions include The Grace Museum in Abilene, the Dairy Arts
Center in Boulder, Colorado, the McKinney Avenue Contemporary in Dallas, Texas, the Fort Worth Community
Arts Center in Fort Worth, Texas, the Lawndale Art Center in Houston, Texas and the Pelham Art Center in New
York.
Lindy Chambers
"Eyes of the Bayou...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
"Beware of Dog, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Vibrant, yet also subdued, this work’s use of color and line imbue ordinary subject matter with an uplifting sense of levity and beauty. Bolstered by a strong use of abstract elements and impressionist techniques, this oil on canvas painting is an excellent example of Chambers’ unique stylistic blend.
Chambers transforms the pastoral into the extraordinary. Long before she puts paint to a canvas, her artistic
process begins with the simple act of paying attention. From the outside looking in, she observes often overlooked
aspects of life to discover an otherwise unseen beauty in the ordinary.
Her paintings are vibrant compositions of color. She works in two distinct palettes, one bright the other subdued,
each containing an incredible diversity of hue and value. Her insistence on variety furthers the idea that everything
contains its own unique beauty, if only you stop to notice. Chambers skillfully uses lines and shapes to both break
up the vibrancy of the canvas and to imbue her compositions with a narrative power. The line work introduces a
tension to the color as the objects of her focus appear to pop and the details of each scene defiantly catch the
viewer’s impatient eye. It is in this way that her paintings elevate above mere depiction to offer a lesson in the
observation of art.
Each painting has strong elements of abstract and impressionist techniques, as well as drawn forms that are
cartoon like in character. The blend of the two adds dimension to the flat surface and provides visual anchors in
the midst of the cacophony of color.
Based in Belleville, Texas, Chambers is a “Texas Big 10 for Art” prize winner at KCAM, a recipient of the “Silver
Award” from Art Forward, and the “Alexander Rutsch Painting Award” from the Pelham Art Center.
Chambers’ art has been featured in numerous shows in galleries across the United States, including Houston,
Lexington, Palm Beach, and New York. Select exhibitions include The Grace Museum in Abilene, the Dairy Arts
Center in Boulder, Colorado, the McKinney Avenue Contemporary in Dallas, Texas, the Fort Worth Community
Arts Center in Fort Worth, Texas, the Lawndale Art Center in Houston, Texas and the Pelham Art Center in New
York.
Lindy Chambers
"Beware of Dog...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Cousins, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Vibrant, yet also subdued, this work’s use of color and line imbue ordinary subject matter with an uplifting sense of levity and beauty. Bolstered by a strong use of abstract element...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Hometown Parade, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Hometown Parade" reflects on the small town cultural customs of rural American cities. Moreover, this work discusses the latent nostalgia and the ephemeral nature of time as it pass...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Blue Tarp, " Oil on Acrylic - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Blue Tarp" depicts a simple small town scene. The affable subject matter is then contrasted by the abstract coloration and striking treatment of the medium, serving to imbue the wor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Girl and Bike, " Oil on Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Girl and Bike" depicts a simple small town scene. The affable subject matter is then contrasted by the abstract coloration and striking treatment of the medium, serving to imbue the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Kid Toy, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Kid Toy" infuses hot colors with temperate neutral hues to achieve a robust color scheme, as well as fostering an enigmatic tone within the work. Additionall...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Intermission, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Intermission" discusses the latent nostalgia and the ephemeral nature of time as it passes us by. The abstraction of the figures, and expressive brushwork emphasize the notion of ob...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Street Players, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Street Players" depicts a small town scene of children at play in a rural environment. The affable subject matter is then contrasted by the abstract coloration, serving to imbue the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"They Go Where They Want, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Vibrant, yet also subdued, this work’s treatment of color and line imbue ordinary subject matter with an uplifting sense of levity and beauty. Bolstered by a strong use of abstract e...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Full Circle, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Full Circle" is a mostly monochromatic depiction of a simple small town scene. The affable subject matter is then contrasted by the abstract coloration and striking treatment of the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Loons on the Lake, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
This painting, "Loons on the Lake," relies on vigorous application of red hues and dark neutrals to enrich this composition with a foreboding atmosphere. Juxtaposed by the mild-manne...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Friends, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Vibrant, yet also subdued, this work’s use of color and line imbue ordinary subject matter with an uplifting sense of levity and beauty. Bolstered by a strong use of abstract element...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Danny’s Bird Pile, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Chambers transforms the pastoral into the extraordinary. Long before she puts paint to a canvas, her artistic
process begins with the simple act of paying attention. From the outside looking in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Family Time, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Vibrant and moody, "Family Time" combines strong abstract elements with bold splashes of complimentary colors. Additionally, the rough textural treatment across the surface of the ca...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Ball Players, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
In "Ball Players," Chambers employs warm neutral tones to underscore the placidity of the rural environment. Additionally, the abstraction of the figures a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Way Back, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
This work’s strength comes from its use of color and line. Reds and greens contrast, building tension throughout the picture plane. In combination with the expressive application of ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Snow Bird Wagon, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Richly saturated color is applied heavily and expressively in "Snow Bird Wagon." Abound with complimentary color patterns and impressionist technique; Chamb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"All Too Well (Lambland), " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Large and vibrant, this painting on canvas demonstrates a skillful employment of line and color. The variety of color and line, combined with a robust proclivity for abstraction, thi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Neighbors, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Neighbors" depicts a simple small town scene. The affable subject matter is then contrasted by the abstract coloration and striking treatment of the medium, serving to imbue the wor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Street Volley, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Street Volley" discusses the latent nostalgia and the ephemeral nature of time as it passes us by. The abstraction of the figures, and expressive brushwork emphasize the notion of o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"I Saw This, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"I Saw This" employs a soft analogous color scheme of blues, greens, and yellows. In addition to the colors, the treatment of the paint across the surface of the canvas, and the lack...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Weed, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
"Weed" depicts a simple small town scene. The affable subject matter is then contrasted by the abstract coloration and striking treatment of the medium, serving to imbue the work wit...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Neighbors, " Oil on Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Chambers transforms the pastoral into the extraordinary. Long before she puts paint to a canvas, her artistic
process begins with the simple act of paying attention. From the outside looking in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Who Let the Dogs Out, " Oil on Ampersand
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Chambers transforms the pastoral into the extraordinary. Long before she puts paint to a canvas, her artistic
process begins with the simple act of paying attention. From the outside looking in...
Category
2010s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
"I Can’t Forget About This, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Bold, evocative, and eerie, "I Can't Forget About This" relies on its subject matter, a variety of strong colors, and a visceral application of paint, which...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Goats Don't Eat Cans, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Chambers transforms the pastoral into the extraordinary. Long before she puts paint to a canvas, her artistic
process begins with the simple act of paying attention. From the outside looking in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Fresh Dirt, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Chambers transforms the pastoral into the extraordinary. Long before she puts paint to a canvas, her artistic
process begins with the simple act of paying attention. From the outside looking in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"The Voice from the Mountains, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Chinese Painting
Located in Houston, TX
This Painting depicts the 'Miao' minority hill tribe people from Central China. The rich elegance of their native attire denotes the primitive sophistication typical of these indigenous people.
Yang Jin Long...
Category
1990s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
"No Straight Answers, " Oil on Canvas - Abstract Figurative Painting, Indian Art
Located in Houston, TX
This oil on canvas painting is inspired by the Hindu Goddess Kaamdhenu, the mother of all cows and Bhatt’s recurring symbol of desire. The bovine figure cradles two humanistic figu...
Category
2010s Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Room 6, " Acrylic on Canvas - Surrealist
Located in Houston, TX
In Plusch’s "Room" series, we see the impression of a human figure against a background composed of imagery suggesting the assembly of an ordinary room. The treatment of the backgrou...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"Don’t Look at Me, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
This work is a playful rendering of a placid homestead scene. The warm and reserved color palette encourages a laid-back atmosphere, which also serves to complement the aloofness o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Madness, " - Figurative Mixed Media painting
Located in Houston, TX
This work features an acrylic painting on canvas suspended between two wooden planks. The treatment of the painting appears visceral and rambunctious - congested with abstract and sy...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Plaster, Acrylic, Mirror
"The Water Naga, " Acrylic, Gold Leaf, Mixed Media on Wood
Located in Houston, TX
The Naga is the God of Water, which blesses the earth with rain for replenishment.
Artist Details:
Sompop Budtarad
"The Water Naga"
1997
Acrylic, Gold Leaf, Mixed Media on Wood
63...
Category
1990s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
"Effect-1 , " Acrylic on Canvas - Surrealist
Located in Houston, TX
In his "Effect" series, we see how Plusch gives location - places and spaces resembling the world around us - the same treatment once reserved for his abstract human forms. Effective...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"Big Kids, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Chambers transforms the pastoral into the extraordinary. Long before she puts paint to a canvas, her artistic
process begins with the simple act of paying attention. From the outside looking in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Dear, " - Figurative Mixed Media painting
Located in Houston, TX
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...
Category
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Plaster, Acrylic
"Sunrise Park, " Oil and Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
This work’s strength comes from its range of abstract elements and coarse texture. In "Sunrise Park," Chambers draws upon a variety of mark making techniques and textures to imbue th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Room #1, " Acrylic and Varnish on Canvas - Surrealist
Located in Houston, TX
In Ivan’s "Room" series, we see the impression of a human figure against a background composed of imagery suggesting the dressings of an interior space. The treatment of the backgrou...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"Untitled, " Acrylic on Canvas - Figurative painting
Located in Houston, TX
This painting typifies the beginning of Long’s artistic journey. Having just recently entered the artistic arena at the time of its conception, this work demonstrates the technique a...
Category
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
"Rivers of Blood, " - Figurative Mixed Media painting on Wood
Located in Houston, TX
This work consists of an acrylic painting on canvas laid in a handmade frame of plaster and pine. The imagery of the painting, as implied by the title and crucifix near the center of...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Mirror, Plaster, Acrylic, Wood
"New York Crimes, " Mixed Media - Graffiti Art Collage, Contemporary Pop Art
By Harif Guzman
Located in Houston, TX
Energetic, vibrant, and provocative, Guzman’s work is a fusion of pop and street art. An ensemble of collage and paint on panel, this work examines the commodification of sex appeal ...
Category
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Materials
Paper, Acrylic
"Love and War, " Abstract Figurative Acrylic Painting on Processed Board
Located in Houston, TX
"Love and War," a collaborative series between Bert Long Jr. and Jesse Lott, features loosely human forms painted in a manner that suggests humanity’s proce...
Category
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Board
"Untitled, " Acrylic and Paper Collage on Canvas
Located in Houston, TX
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"
1977
Acrylic and Paper Collage on Canvas...
Category
1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
"Moments, " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
In "Moments," Chambers employs warm tones to underscore the placidity of the rural environment. Additionally, the abstraction of the figures and gestural treatment of the paint acros...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Fruits of Life (No Good Deed Goes Unpunished), " Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Houston, TX
This work is a poignant metaphorical representation of the American social climate in which Long was raised, educated, and experienced.
Bert L. Long Jr., was self-taught artist, was...
Category
1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
"After Gandhi, " Acrylic on Canvas - Abstract painting
Located in Houston, TX
This work resembles a colorful abstraction of a terrarium inhabited by geometric and organic forms alike.
Bert L. Long Jr., was self-taught artist, was born in 1940 in Texas, grew ...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
"Party Animals , " Oil on Canvas - Figurative Painting
By Lindy Chambers
Located in Houston, TX
Playful and spontaneous, "Party Animals" is an energetic arrangement of color, line, and shape. The bold variety of detailed forms lends a dynamic field o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
