Wayne Gilbert
Wayne Gilbert
Wayne Gilbert
Born
Wayne Dale Gilbert

(1946-11-26)November 26, 1946
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
DiedAugust 17, 2023(2023-08-17) (aged 76)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Houston
Known forPainting
Websitehttps://www.waynegilbert.com

For the Canadian animator, see Wayne Gilbert.

Wayne Dale Gilbert (November 26, 1946 – August 17, 2023) was an American painter and gallerist who lived and worked in Houston, Texas. He was best known for creating paintings using unclaimed, cremated human remains.[1][2][3][4] His life and work were featured in the film “Ash: The Art of Wayne Gilbert,” a documentary directed by filmmaker Wayne Slaten.[3][5]

Gilbert was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Houston, Texas.[6] His father was a carpenter,[6] and his mother was a punch-card operator.[5] After graduating from Stephen F. Austin High School,[6] Gilbert worked as an oil field supplies salesman.[2] His interest in art was sparked in the late 1970s when his wife, Beverley, persuaded him to enroll with her in a class at the Houston Museum District home of artist Chester Snowden.[6][5]

Gilbert attended the University of Houston, earning a Bachelor of Arts in painting in 1984.[5] He described his early work as “'Absurd Expressionism,' focused on humanity at its ugliest, inspired by subjects such as the Jonestown Massacre.”[5] Gilbert later studied at Rice University, earning a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts in 2012.

In addition to creating art, Gilbert ran G Spot Contemporary Gallery in The Heights[5][7] neighborhood in central Houston and was a partner in DigitalImaging Group, a Houston-based animation studio.[5]

Gilbert died of cancer in Houston, Texas, on August 17, 2023, at the age of 76.[8][9][10][11]

Painting with Cremains

For Gilbert, the idea of using cremated human remains in his art originated after the death of his uncle.[6]

Gilbert contacted funeral homes to locate unclaimed cremains.[6][12] He had to search for six months to locate the first funerary ashes he used in a work of art.[2] For his cremains works, he mixed the ashes with resin – occasionally adding pigment – to incorporate them into his pieces.[6][2][5][12]

A film called “Ash: The Art of Wayne Gilbert” documents his work and premiered at the 2017 Houston Cinema Arts Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.[3][5]

Exhibitions

  • 2023 Tomorrow's Unknown, Redbud Arts Center, Houston, Texas[13]
  • 2022 Wayne Gilbert: The Classic Cremain Paintings, Bill Arning Exhibitions, Houston, Texas[14]
  • 2022 Wayne Gilbert: The End of the Road, Outsider Art Fair, New York, New York[15]
  • 2015 Degrees of Separation, Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Houston, Texas[16]
  • 2013 Human Remains Paintings, 14 Pews, Houston, Texas[17]
  • 2007 Blind Philosophy, Art League of Houston, Houston, Texas[18]
  • 2007 Amistad - Texas Art in Peru, Museo de la Nación, Lima, Peru (group show)[19]
  • 2006 After Life (When the Dust Settles), Gallery 68, Austin, Texas
  • 2006 Contemporary Art Houston, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China (group show)[20]
  • 2005 Danse Macabre, Megnet Gallery, Beaumont, Texas
  • 1996 Houston-Area Exhibition, Blaffer Art Museum, Houston, Texas (juried group show)[21]
  • 1991 The Big Show '91, Lawndale Art Center, Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (juried group show) - Merit Prize

References

  1. ↑ Hirsch, Reyne (April 1, 2014). "The Art of Death". Huffington Post. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Grossman, Wendy (October 18, 2004). "Ashes to Paint: Houston Artist Wayne Gilbert Loves Working with People – Dead Ones". People Magazine.
  3. 1 2 3 Fletcher, Abner (November 9, 2017). "Bringing Life to Art: Houstonian Incorporates Human Ashes into His Paintings". Houston Public Media. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Cremated remains bring on new forms of art and remembrance". Funeral Director Daily. March 15, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Glentzer, Molly (November 10, 2017). "Remains of his days: Artist Wayne Gilbert ponders what to do with life's work that incorporates cremation ashes". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dansby, Andrew (March 3, 2022). "Using cremated remains, this Houston artist makes dead loved ones come alive through his art". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ Anspon, Catherine (November 12, 2015). "Houston's G Spot: Heights Duo Creates a Special Place". PaperCity Magazine. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  8. ↑ Fuentes, Jessica (August 22, 2023). "Wayne Gilbert, 1946 – 2023". Glasstire. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ Dansby, Andrew (August 18, 2023). "Beloved Houston artist Wayne Gilbert, whose work asked big questions, dead at 76". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  10. ↑ Vognar, Chris (August 29, 2023). "Inside the Final Days of a Houston Artist Inspired by Death". Houstonia. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  11. ↑ Anspon, Catherine D. (October 12, 2023). "Remembering Wayne Gilbert, a Beloved Maverick Houston Artist Who Pushed Limits and Always Had Time For Others". Paper City Magazine. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Wetzel, Tim (August 11, 2016). "Artist uses human remains in his artwork". KHOU-11. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Redbud Arts Center presents Wayne Gilbert: Tomorrow's Unknown opening reception". Culture Map. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Wayne Gilbert: The Classic Cremain Paintings". Glasstire. November 12, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Wayne Gilbert: The End Of the Road". Bill Arning Exhibitions. March 3, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Degrees of Separation". Station Museum. 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Art opening reception: Human Remains Paintings by Wayne Gilbert". CultureMap Houston. 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  18. ↑ Rhodes, Dusti (November 22, 2007). "Blind Philosophy". HoustonPress. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Amistad I". Redbud Arts Center. 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Houston Contemporary Art". Redbud Arts Center. 2006. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Blaffer Art Museum Archive". Blaffer Art Museum. 1996. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
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