Wayne Gilbert (artist)

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Wayne Gilbert
Wayne Gilbert Wayne gilbert portrait 103.jpg
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.
Education University of Houston
Known for Painting
Website https://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]

Contents

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

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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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