About J. R. Gabriel, Bronze Sculptor

J. R. Gabriel

Salt Lake City, Utah

As a child isolated in a small Texas town, my early escape was to raid our little library in the basement of the town jail and look at pictures of art by the masters. I dreamed, painted, drew and mashed clay around. Passion for art led me to academia where I attended West Texas University (scholarship, music), University of Utah (BFA, scholarships music, opera, theater), Brigham Young University (MS, scholarship, published thesis). I continued graduate and post graduate work (double MFA/MA) at Texas Tech University, University of Texas, Pepperdine University, University of Utah and also completed teaching certification in Drama, English, French, Speech and Information Science.

My love for all creative arts has allowed me to delve into my multiple interests: I have performed in numerous theater productions with membership in Actors' Equity; Singing has allowed me to solo in classical and contemporary music with various choirs and orchestras (I SEE MY SCULPTURES AS VERY MUSICAL); Both music and theater strongly influence my greatest satisfaction, sculpting. The ability to hold and create a three dimensional image is most gratifying.
My greatest inspirations for creating fantasy art came from my dear friend, Mary Lou Romney, U of U Art Department teacher, and James Christensen, BYU faculty emeritus. I have a constant urge to create and keep the inspiration strong.

I love the fragile and inviting, cooperative, sometimes resistant nature of clay and the enduring stability of bronze. My creations are unexpected characters displaying emotion in the rhythm of their body language: a trapped mythological hare is blindfolded; a camel flies; a rhino plays vulnerably; an anthropomorphic bird flaps into humanity; a masked figure searches but has no eyes; an ass climbs a mushroom. I hope each makes a noise and tells a story, a mystery or fantasy--as many stories as there are people looking. It's fun, like it should be.

My ideas are "such stuff as dreams are made of," and the next piece comes to me gradually, usually while I am working on the current project--sort of two at once. I prefer not to thoroughly sketch beforehand. I see the finished product in my mind and the new idea continues to speak to me as I gouge and push the clay. I want the characters to move and dance as I find a rhythm in the art. I like exaggeration and impossible scenarios that seem to somehow make us think "perhaps." Hopefully, people will open their imaginations when they look at my work.

I am fortunate to have been "juried" into fine art exhibits around the country. Here is a selective list of exciting places where I have shown my sculptures:

Seattle, Washington----------Kalispell, Montana----------Loveland, Colorado----------Aspen/Vail, Colorado----------Omaha, Nebraska----------Chicago, Illinois----------Ann Arbor, Michigan----------St. Louis, Missouri----------Nashville, Tennessee----------Tulsa, Oklahoma----------Albuquerque, New Mexico----------Carefree, Arizona----------Scottsdale, Arizona----------Fountain Hills, Arizona----------Las Vegas, Nevada.

My work is owned by collectors in many states of the U.S. plus China, South America, Canada and Japan.

I also received the honor of being selected and featured as Utah Sculptor of the Year by TOSCA ARTS MAGAZINE, "The American Artist Series."

Because of my travels I have begun only recently to exhibit my sculptures locally in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah:

Springville Museum of Art
Utah Arts Council--Jurors' Choice Award, Rio Gallery
Ogden Arts Council--Invitation To Exhibit Body Of Work
Provo Arts Council--Juried Exhibit
Thanksgiving Point--"Best of Utah" exhibit
People's Choice
Art Institute--Gallery Exhibit
Hogle Zoo Wildlife Exhibit--Zoo Choice Award
Prestige Gallery--Featured Artist
Gateway Center Union Pacific Exhibit--Juried Exhibit
Trolley Square--Featured Artist
Local Colors Fine Art Gallery--Featured Artist
Alpine Art Center/Adonis Bronze
Snowbird's Mountain Colors Gallery--Featured Artist
Jewish Art Center--Juried Exhibit
Poor Yorick Exhibit--Featured Artist
Eccles Art Center--Juried Exhibit
Urban Arts Gateway--Invitation Body of Work
Art and Cultural Center--Juried Sculpture Invitation

I would enjoy hearing from you. Click on "contact" and send me an email. J.R. Gabriel, artist and bronze sculptor