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
DiedAugust 17, 2023(2023-08-17) (aged 76)
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.
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  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.