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Minimalist sculptures and colorful paintings reveal the multi talented nature of self-taught artist Rusty Wolfe. Growing up in Lexington, Massachusetts Wolfe had little exposure to the prominent artists that shaped modern art as we know it today. His art practice was largely intuitive, inspired by natural elements such as science and the environment as well as man- made structures. The architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright was among his early interests. Wright was interested in building structures that complemented their natural environments, creating a harmony between nature and the man-made world. Wolfe was particularly intrigued with Wright's cantilever elements whereby structures appeared with no visible means of support. This concept motivated Wolfe's sculptures, which consist of elements that appear to levitate in space.

It wasn't until later in his career that Wolfe began to see similarities between his forms and those of prominent artists such as Donald Judd and Sol Lewitt. Similar to Judd, negative space became an integral part of his sculptures. Wolfe's repetitions of shapes are tied together with spatial symmetry. His forms are further defined by the deliberate shadows they cast upon the surfaces that surround them.

Wolfe's paintings also take on a sculptural form with the use of multiple colors and layers. A three dimensional quality is made possible through the layering of applications of paint followed by lacquer. His assertion of line and color is reminiscent of Sol Lewitt's paintings, yet they take on a spatial quality that is entirely unique. Although they maintain a focus on line, shape and color, the works possess a depth that is far beyond the surface. Seeking to address the very make-up of our world: molecular structures, patterns in nature and man-made constructions are fundamental to these works.

Born 1949 in Ithaca, NY.

Currently works and resides in Nashville, TN.

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

• 2010 Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco CA.
• 2007 Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco CA.
  Art Miami, Miami, FL.
  Los Angeles Art Show, Santa Monica, CA.
  Art Palm Beach, Palm Beach, FL.
  Lurie Gallery, Miami, FL.
  SOFA Chicago, IL.
• 2006 SOFA Chicago, IL.
• 2005 SOFA Chicago, IL.
  Art at El Paseo Square, Palm Desert, CA.
  Finer Things Gallery, Nashville, TN.
• 2004 Finer Things Gallery, Nashville, TN.
  Art at El Paseo Square, Palm Desert CA.
• 2003 James Tigerman Gallery, Chicago IL.
• 2002 Elizabeth Edwards Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA.
• 2001 Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, TN.
• 2000 Finer Things Gallery, Nashville, TN.
• 1998 Flying Solo, Nashville International Airport, Nashville, TN.

Selected Group Exhibitions:

• 2007 Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY.
• 2006 ART Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ.
• 2005 Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, WI.
  Tercera Gallery, Los Gatos, CA.
  Emerging Art Fair, Scottsdale, AZ.
  Anderson Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM.
• 2004 Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, WI.
  SOFA Chicago, IL.
  SOFA New York, NY.
• 2003 SOFA Chicago, IL.
  Tercera Gallery, Los Gatos, CA.
  Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY.
  Master Multiples, Elaine Baker Gallery, Boca Raton, FL.
  Black N White, BGH Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
• 2002 SOFA Chicago, IL.
  SOFA New York, NY.
  Master Multiples, Elaine Baker Gallery, Boca Raton, FL.
  Elizabeth Edwards Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA.
  Grids, Lewallen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM.
  Palm Springs International Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA.
• 2001 Palm Springs International Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA.
  SOFA Chicago, IL.
  Side by Side, Belfast Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  The Best of Tennessee, Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, TN.
  National All-Media Exhibition, Touchstone Gallery, Washington, D.C.
• 2000 SOFA Chicago, IL.
• 1999 SOFA Chicago, IL.
• 1998 Confluence, 25th Annual Exhibition, Ingram TX.
  Finer Things Gallery, Nashville, TN.
• 1997 New American Talent, 15th Annual, Austin TX.
  Tennessee All-State Exhibition, 35th Annual, Nashville TN.
  34th Annual Vague Art Exhibition, Parthenon, Nashville TN.
• 1996 Finer Things Gallery, Nashville, TN.

Selected Collections:

• Tennessee State Museum, Nashville TN.
• Winzeler Gear, Chicago, IL.
• Lincoln Plating, Lincoln, NE.
• BellSouth, Nashville, TN.
• Baptist Hospital, Nashville TN.
• Pinnacle Financial Group, Nashville TN.
• Rising Tide Records, Nashville, TN.
• Technical Resource Group, Nashville, TN.
• B & G Wholesalers, Nashville, TN.
• Bacar Constructors, Nashville TN.
• MTM Records, Nashville TN.
• Leann Rimes, Los Angeles CA.

Selected Bibliography:

• Metropolitan Home, “White On”, May June 2003.
• Architectural Digest “Art Across America,” May 2003.
• South Florida Times, “Rusty Wolfe: Pop Goes Minimal,” Alissa Lawrence, January 2003.
• Florida Design, “A Smart New Look,” October 2003.
• Rusty Wolfe: Off the Wall, published by Finer Things Gallery, September 2002.
• Laguna Beach Times, “Rusty Wolfe is Multi-Skilled,” Roberta Carusso, January 2002.
• Nashville Scene, “Layers Upon Layers,” Angela Wibking, January 2002.
• Rusty Wolfe: Introducing Lacquer, published by Finer Things Gallery, July 2000.
• Tennessean, “Wolfe Puts a New Spin on Lacquer,” Liz Nutter, April 2000.
• INReview, “Solo Performance: Wolfe’s Work Flies High,” Adrienne Outlaw, November 1998.
• Tennessean, “All Lacquered Up,” Alan Bostick, 1998.