Wayne Gilbert (artist)

For the Canadian animator, see Wayne Gilbert.

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

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, reportedly of cancer, in Houston, Texas, on August 17, 2023, at the age of 76.[8][9]

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][10] 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][10]

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[11]
  • 2022 Wayne Gilbert: The Classic Cremain Paintings, Bill Arning Exhibitions, Houston, Texas[12]
  • 2022 Wayne Gilbert: The End of the Road, Outsider Art Fair, New York, New York[13]
  • 2015 Degrees of Separation, Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Houston, Texas[14]
  • 2013 Human Remains Paintings, 14 Pews, Houston, Texas[15]
  • 2007 Blind Philosophy, Art League of Houston, Houston, Texas[16]
  • 2007 Amistad - Texas Art in Peru, Museo de la Nación, Lima, Peru (group show)[17]
  • 2006 After Life (When the Dust Settles), Gallery 68, Austin, Texas
  • 2006 Contemporary Art Houston, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China (group show)[18]
  • 2005 Danse Macabre, Megnet Gallery, Beaumont, Texas
  • 1996 Houston-Area Exhibition, Blaffer Art Museum, Houston, Texas (juried group show)[19]
  • 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. Grossman, Wendy (October 18, 2004). "Ashes to Paint: Houston Artist Wayne Gilbert Loves Working with People – Dead Ones". People Magazine.
  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. 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. 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. Dansby, Andrew (August 18, 2023). "Beloved Houston artist Wayne Gilbert, whose work asked big questions, dead at 76". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  9. "Wayne Gilbert, 1946 – 2023". Glasstire. August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  10. Wetzel, Tim (August 11, 2016). "Artist uses human remains in his artwork". KHOU-11. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  11. "Redbud Arts Center presents Wayne Gilbert: Tomorrow's Unknown opening reception". Culture Map. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  12. "Wayne Gilbert: The Classic Cremain Paintings". Glasstire. November 12, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  13. "Wayne Gilbert: The End Of the Road". Bill Arning Exhibitions. March 3, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  14. "Degrees of Separation". Station Museum. 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  15. "Art opening reception: Human Remains Paintings by Wayne Gilbert". CultureMap Houston. 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  16. Rhodes, Dusti (November 22, 2007). "Blind Philosophy". HoustonPress. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  17. "Amistad I". Redbud Arts Center. 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  18. "Houston Contemporary Art". Redbud Arts Center. 2006. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  19. "Blaffer Art Museum Archive". Blaffer Art Museum. 1996. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
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