Artist Russell Thurston

Russell Thurston - Artist Statement

My working process is like a journey without a map. I try to look at every painting as an experiment—and also a collaboration—between my concept and the painting’s. At times, I’m not sure what direction the work will take. In this process, accidents can happen. Parts get covered up; hidden, then scraped off; revealed. The hot beeswax moves ands drips in unexpected ways. I welcome the accidents; they can help shape the aesthetics and the meaning of the painting. They point me in the direction the painting wants to take. It sometimes can be frustrating to work this way, but it’s always exciting and revelatory.

My latest encaustic paintings combine roofing tar, and other common building materials. I want to endow these items with a beauty, and aesthetic resonance that transcends their functionality. If I hadn’t become an artist, I probably would have been a scientist (if I was better at math). I want to understand the nature of things.

Resume

Education

1985 MFA, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL

1982 BFA, California State University, Fullerton, CA

Exhibitions

Solo

2009 Too Close to the Sun, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
2009 Russell Thurston: New Work, The Gallery at R & F, Kingston, NY
2007 180 Degrees Wax: Hot and Cold, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
2006 Natural Selection: New Paintings, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL
2006 Wax Paper: New Encaustic Works on Paper, WAG Artwork, Chicago, IL
2005 Waxy Buildup: New Encaustic Paintings, Cruz Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2005 New Works: Paintings by Russell Thurston, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL
2004 The Sin Paintings, Big Cat Gallery, New York, NY
2003 New Works: Paintings by Russell Thurston, Gallery Blue, Santa Fe, NM

Group

2008 On the Edge: Invitational Encaustic Show, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA
2006 Points of View, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
2006 Small Works, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
2005 Summer Show, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL
2005 8 X 8 Small Works Show, Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
2005 The Seven Sins Show, Phildes Gallery, New York, NY
2005 The Seductive Surface, Turner Carroll Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

Publications

2005 “They Melt In Your Car, Not In the Gallery,” Pasatiempo artist profile, Santa Fe New Mexican, August
2005 “Waxy Buildup Preview,” THE Magazine, August
2005 “Editors’ Choice,” The Santa Fe Reporter, August

Representation

2009 Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM

Collections

Sony Music Corporate Headquarters, Los Angeles, CA
American Medical Association Headquarters, Chicago, IL
Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA
Hotel Monaco, Chicago, IL

Professional Experience

2009 Breaking the Rules, Encaustic Workshop on Mixed Media and the Encaustic Process, Kingston, NY
2008 Integrating Oils and Dry Pigments Into the Encaustic Process, International Encaustic Conference, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA
2007 Basics of Encaustic II, Encaustic Workshop, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL
2006 Basics of Encaustic, Encaustic Workshop, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL



	Russell Thurston - Artist Statement My working process is like a journey without a map. I try to look at every painting as an experiment—and also a collaboration—between my concept and the painting’s. At times, I’m not sure what direction the work will take. In this process, accidents can happen. Parts get covered up; hidden, then scraped off; revealed. The hot beeswax moves ands drips in unexpected ways. I welcome the accidents; they can help shape the aesthetics and the meaning of the painting. They point me in the direction the painting wants to take. It sometimes can be frustrating to work this way, but it’s always exciting and revelatory. My latest encaustic paintings combine roofing tar, and other common building materials. I want to endow these items with a beauty, and aesthetic resonance that transcends their functionality. If I hadn’t become an artist, I probably would have been a scientist (if I was better at math). I want to understand the nature of things. Resume Education 1985 MFA, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL 1982 BFA, California State University, Fullerton, CA Exhibitions Solo 2009 Too Close to the Sun, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2009 Russell Thurston: New Work, The Gallery at R & F, Kingston, NY 2007 180 Degrees Wax: Hot and Cold, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2006 Natural Selection: New Paintings, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL 2006 Wax Paper: New Encaustic Works on Paper, WAG Artwork, Chicago, IL 2005 Waxy Buildup: New Encaustic Paintings, Cruz Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2005 New Works: Paintings by Russell Thurston, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL 2004 The Sin Paintings, Big Cat Gallery, New York, NY 2003 New Works: Paintings by Russell Thurston, Gallery Blue, Santa Fe, NM Group 2008 On the Edge: Invitational Encaustic Show, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA 2006 Points of View, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2006 Small Works, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2005 Summer Show, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL 2005 8 X 8 Small Works Show, Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2005 The Seven Sins Show, Phildes Gallery, New York, NY 2005 The Seductive Surface, Turner Carroll Gallery, Santa Fe, NM Publications 2005 “They Melt In Your Car, Not In the Gallery,” Pasatiempo artist profile, Santa Fe New Mexican, August 2005 “Waxy Buildup Preview,” THE Magazine, August 2005 “Editors’ Choice,” The Santa Fe Reporter, August Representation 2009 Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM Collections Sony Music Corporate Headquarters, Los Angeles, CA American Medical Association Headquarters, Chicago, IL Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA Hotel Monaco, Chicago, IL Professional Experience 2009 Breaking the Rules, Encaustic Workshop on Mixed Media and the Encaustic Process, Kingston, NY 2008 Integrating Oils and Dry Pigments Into the Encaustic Process, International Encaustic Conference, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA 2007 Basics of Encaustic II, Encaustic Workshop, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL 2006 Basics of Encaustic, Encaustic Workshop, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL





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