Gavin Zeigler
George Gavin Zeigler grew up in Franklin, Tennessee where he began his training under the direction of the late Bunn Gray. He did his undergraduate work in Art History at Fordham University and currently works out of his studio in New York. Zeigler's process involves collage as well as painting and sanding. He built layers upon layers with materials such as checks, stock certificates and other financial documents. He utilizing the created edges, perforations and crevices to trap pigment and creating visual excitement while at the same time revealing the inherent beauty of these everyday materials.
Resume
Education
2007 Twelve Week Intensive Woodworking Course, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Rockport,ME.
1988 Certificate Program, Graphic Arts, Pratt Institute, New York, NY.
1990–94 BA Art History, Fordham University, New York, NY.
Solo Exhibitions
2013 “A Thirty Year Retrospective of Paintings and Sculpture” Peter Marcelle Gallery,
Bridgehampton, NY.
2009 Hampton Road Gallery, Southampton, NY. Curated by Peter Marcelle.
2004–05 “ New Work ” Art Holdings Company, Dallas, TX.
1999 “ New Paintings ” Gallery Bershad, Somerville, MA. Curated by Joanna Miller.
1997 “ Subterfuge ” Paintings , Kenneth Winslow Gallery, New York, NY.
Gallery MAC, New York, NY. Selected by Raina LamkinsFielder, New Museum of
Contemporary Art; Rick Long, School of Visual Arts; Sarah O’Connell, The Brooklyn Museum of Art.
“ Submersion ” New Paintings, Chuck Levitan Gallery, New York, NY. Curated by Elaine Wechsler.
1995 “ Recent Work ” Physick Estate/Cape May County Art League, Cape May, NJ. Curated by Neal McPheeters.
Group Exhibitions
2016 Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN.
2015 Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, Sag Harbor, New York. Curated by Peter Marcelle.
Art Southampton, Southampton, NY.
Peter Marcelle Project, Southampton, NY.
The Guild Hall Museum, East Hampton, NY.
2014 Art Southampton, Peter Marcelle Project, Southampton, NY.
“Hamptons Artist Then and Now,” Gerald Peters Gallery, New York, NY.
“Under the Influence,” The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, Sag Harbor, NY. Curated by Peter Marcelle.
“Sculpture from the Permanent Collection,” Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA.
“Seeking Engagement NSA” Lyons Wier Gallery, New York, NY. Curated by Beth McNeil.
The Peter Marcelle Project, Southampton, NY and New York City.
2013 Art Southampton, Gerald Peters Gallery, Southampton, NY.
Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, Sag Harbor, NY. Curated by Peter Marcelle.
2012 Islip Art Museum, East Islip, NY.
Peter J. Marcelle Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY.
The Silas Marder Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY.
2011 “In the Mix” Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO.
2008 Anelle Gandelman Fine Art, Larchmont, NY.
2007 Anelle Gandelman Fine Art, Larchmont, NY.
Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA.
Sculpture in the Park 2007, Loveland’s Benson Sculpture Garden, Loveland, CO.
Attleboro Arts Museum, Attleboro, MA.
2006 Port of San Diego Sculpture Show, San Diego, CA.
Annex Gallery, Amagansett, NY.
Palm Beach International Sculpture Biennale 2006, Palm Beach, FL.
Visual Arts Society of Texas, Denton, TX.
2005 “Galeriste sans Galerie” Scope Art Fair, The Townhouse Hotel in South Beach, Miami, FL.
Gallery International, Baltimore, MD.
Lux Gallery, Chicago, IL.
Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA.
The Sculpture Salmagundi IX, Rocky Mount, NC.
Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM.
26th Annual Mini Works on Paper Exhibition, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL. Award Winner.
The Attleboro Museum, Attleboro, MA.
Red Dot Fine Art Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
The 2005 World’s Exposition, Aichi, Japan.
Spring Gallery, Belgrade Lakes, ME.
2004 Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO.
Lizan Tops Art Gallery, East Hampton, NY.
Spring Gallery, Belgrade Lakes, ME.
2003 Lizan Tops Art Gallery, East Hampton, NY.
“Emerging Artists” The Arts Company, Nashville, TN.
Alternative Space, Astoria, NY.
2002 The Guild Hall Museum, East Hampton, NY.
“New Concepts in Painting and Sculpture” Anita Shapolsky Gallery, New York, NY.
Lizan Tops Art Gallery, East Hampton, NY.
2001 “Global Village” The Guild Hall Museum, East Hampton, NY. Illustrated Catalogue.
Lizan Tops Art Gallery, East Hampton, NY.
The Halpert Biennial, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
“New Space—New Audience” www.acweb.colum.edu/caa2001.
2000 Texas Fine Arts Association, New American Talent, Fifteenth Exhibition. Illustrated Catalogue.
Hilton Head Art League National Juried Show, The Walter Greer Gallery. Hilton Head, SC.
Gallery Bershad, Somerville, MA.
1999 Savannah College of Art and Design, Juried Fine Arts Competition, Savannah, GA.
Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 50th Annual Exhibition, New Canaan, CT.
19th Annual Faber Birren National Color Show, Stamford, CT.
Artforms Gallery National Juried Show, Philadelphia, PA.
The Halpert Biennial, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
New Arts Program Invitational Exhibition of Small Works, Kutztown, PA.
1998 The 11th Annual Art Exhibition, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN. Recipient of exhibition award.
Cambridge Art Association National Show, Cambridge, MA.
New Arts Program Invitational Exhibition of Small Works, Kutztown, PA.
Wainscott Gallery Group Exhibition, Wainscott, NY.
1997 Montclair State University Art Galleries National Juried Exhibition of Small Works, Upper Montclair, NJ.
17th Annual Faber Birren National Color Show, Stamford, CT.
“The Altered Image,” The Islip Art Museum, East Islip, NY.
1996 New Arts Program Invitational Salon Exhibition of Small Works, Kutztown, PA.
The 31st Annual Open Exhibition, The Fine Arts Institute of the San Bernadino County Museum, Redlands, CA.
Second Annual East Hampton Visual Arts Festival, East Hampton, NY.
San Diego Art Institute 41st Annual 1996 International Juried Exhibition, San Diego, CA.
“Small Works” Department of Art and Art Professions, New York University, New York, NY.
The Fine Arts Museum of Long Island, Fourteenth Annual Juried Exhibition, Hempstead, NY.
“Second Annual National Juried Small Works Christmas Exhibition,” Chuck Levitan Gallery, New York, NY.
1995 “First Annual Juried Small Works Christmas Exhibition” Chuck Levitan Gallery, New York, NY. Received first place award out of 87 selected works.
1987 Blue Rat Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
Dekalb Council for the Arts, Atlanta, GA.
1984 Harding Academy Arts Festival, Nashville, TN.
1983–87 Exhibited with The Collector’s Gallery, Inc., Nashville, TN.
1982 “The Annual Tennessee All State Juried Artist Exhibition,” Parthenon Galleries, Centennial Park, Nashville, TN.
Museums
The Telfair Museum, Savannah, Georgia. Permanent collection.
Books and Publications
Gavin Zeigler: A Thirty Year Retrospective of Paintings and Sculpture 1983–2013 . The Grenfell Press, NY. 2013.
Pantiel, Mindy. Connecticut Cottages and Gardens , “Classic Cool”. C and G Publications, Norwalk, CT. June 2010. Pages 61 and 63. With illustrations.
Aronson, M. L. Architectural Digest , “Joshua Bell, Orchestrating a Penthouse in NY for the Virtuoso Violinist”. Conde Nast Publishing, New York, NY. Vol. 67, No. 5, May 2010. Pages 10, 112 114 with illustrations.
Telfair Magazine , “Acquisition Highlights”. Savannah, Georgia. Issue Number 2, Sept.Dec. 2008. Page 10. With Illustration.
Elahi, Krystyna. VOX Hamptons , “Divine Design”. East Hampton, New York. 2008. Page 52. With Illustration.
Filicia, Thom. Thom Filicia Style . Atria Books, New York, NY. 2008. Pages: 4, 84, 88, 96, 130, 200, and 202. With illustrations.
Sheehan, Patricia. Hotel Design Magazine , “Surf’s Up”. Hotelworld Network Publication. October 2008. Pages: Cover, 32 35. With illustrations.
Evans, Sara. VOX Hamptons . “Out of the Ordinary, The Art of Gavin Zeigler.” East Hampton, New York. October 2008. Pages 83 86.
Kennedy, Renee. Best of America, Sculpture Artists and Artisans . Kennedy Publishing, Williamsburg, VA. Vol. 1. 2007. Pages 115 and 116.
Drake, Jamie. New American Glamour , Illustration. Bullfinch Press, Singapore, Oct. 2005. Page 44.
Bernstein, Fred A. Interior Design Magazine , Illustrations, Volume 76, No. 9. 2005.
Filicia, Thom. The Franklin Room , Illustrations. The AichiUSA 2005 World Exposition Inc. & Thom Filicia Inc. 2005.
Smith, Constance, ed. Living Artists , Illustrations, 13th edition. Hong Kong, 2003.
Lordi, Heather M., ed. Who’s Who in American Art , 23rd edition. Reed Elsevier Inc. New Providence, New Jersey, 1999.
Weitzman, Erica, ed. The William and Mary Review , Illustrations, Volume 35. 1997.
H.I. Gliick, Publisher. New American Paintings , Illustrations, Book No. 10. Open Studio Press Guild 1997
New York City Competition. Juror: Ivan Karp, Director of the OK Harris Gallery, New York, NY. June 1997.
Television
Gavin’s work has appeared on the following television shows:
Nashville , ABC
One Life to Live , ABC
Royal Pains , USA Network
Awards
Michael Monroe, Michael Lash and Wendell Castle: Curator Recognition Award, Palm Beach
International Biennale, 2006
David Houston: Alexandria Museum of Art, 2005
Jacksonville State University: Visual Art Society Award, 2005
Liquitex: Artist of the Month, October 2002
Dr. Donald Kuspit and The Hunter Museum of Art: Exhibition Award, 1998
Ivan Karp: 1st Place Award, 1995
Atlanta College of Art: Merit Scholarship, 1982
Collectors
Kempinski Hotel, Accra, Ghana
“W” Hotel, San Diego, CA
The Ritz Carlton, South Beach, FL
Former NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City, NY
Cramer Berkowitz & Company, New York City, NY
Freedom Management Associates, Inc., Syossett, NY
Loews Vanderbilt Plaza, Nashville, TN
Judge Phyllis Kravitch, Atlanta, GA
Peat, Marwick and Mitchell, Nashville, TN
Victory Systems, Incorporated, Southport, CT
Bibliography
January 13, 2015 Mark Segal, “Gavin Zeigler: The Art of Discovery.” The East Hampton Star , East Hampton, New York. With photographs.
July 9, 2014 Charity Robey, “Shelter Island Profile: Artist Gavin Zeigler.” Shelter Island Reporter , Shelter Island, New York. With photographs.
July 16, 2009 Eric Ernst, “Size Matters at Local Gallery and Exhibition.” The Southampton Press , Southampton, New York. B6. With photo.
October 10, 2008 “The List: Artists of the Hamptons.” Hampton Style Magazine, Southampton, New York. Page 63.
August 2008 “2008 Artist VIPs.” Long Island Pulse Magazine , Patchogue, New York. Pages 76 and 78 with illustrations.
December 3, 2007 “Artist’s Surface to Show Work in New Exhibit.” Greenwich Time, page A9.
Fall, 2007 Marilyn Noble. “Gavin Zeigler: Basic Elements in Bronze.” Sculptural Pursuit Magazine , Volume 6 Number 3, pages 28 31. With illustrations.
August 23, 2007 Pat Rogers. “Symbiosis of Artists and Friends.” The East Hampton Press , page B6. With illustrations.
August 9, 2007 Emily Cunningham. “Touring the Studios of Shelter Island.” The Shelter Island Reporter , Vol. 49, No. 6, pages B10 and B11. With illustrations.
June–July, 2005 “It’s Not Just Your Ordinary Art.” Health and Wellness Magazine , p. 26.
March 11, 2004 Ernst, Eric. “Two Shows Signal the Beginning of Spring.” The Southampton Press, page B4.
August 21, 2003 Galasso, Alexandra. “Body Shop Yielding to Mixed Media Abstractions.” Shelter Island Reporter , Volume 45 Number 8, pages 3 and 6. Illustrations.
July 31, 2003 Wibking, Angela. “North and South.” Nashville Scene .
April 2003 Hall, Katherine. “Emerging Artist: Gavin Zeigler.” Art & Antiques , Volume XXVI Number 4, pages 66, 68 69. Illustrations.
September 5, 2002 Long, Robert. “Literal to Literary.” The East Hampton Star , p. III1.
September 1, 2002 Harrison, Helen A. “Painters Meet Printers with Energetic Results.” The New York Times . Long Island Arts and Entertainment, p. 14.
August 29, 2002 Ernst, Eric. “Three Galleries Reflect Healthy Art Scene.” The Southampton Press, page B8.
October 12, 2001 Wolberg Weiss, Marion. “Art Commentary.” Dan’s Papers , p. 40.
July 12, 2001 Rogers, Pat. “Pocket Items, and More, as Backdrops for Paintings.” The Southampton Press , p. B1. Illustrations.
May 13, 2001 Harrison, Helen A. “Art Reviews.” The New York Times .
May 10, 2001 Rogers, Pat. “A Global Village of Contemporary Artists Convenes at Exhibition.” The Southampton Press , p. B1. Illustrations.
May 3, 2001 Slivka, Rose C. S. “From the Studio.” The East Hampton Star , Volume CXIV Number 39, p. III5. Illustration.
May 3, 1998 Braff, Phyllis. “Subjective and Abstract Flow in Many Directions.” The New York Times , Volume CXLVII Number 51,146, Section 14, p. 24.
April 3, 1998 Weiss, Marion Wolberg. “Art Commentary.” Dan’s Papers , Volume XXXVIII Number 1, p. 38.
March 26, 1998 Hinckle, Annette. “International Group Show in Wainscott.” The Sag Harbor Express , Volume 139 Number 37, p. 9. Illustration.
November 1,1997 Jacobs, Qa’id. “Touchable Art: A Profile of Gavin Zeigler.” PlugIn, www.plugin.com.
October 23, 1997 Hinkle, Annette. “Sag Harbor Artist Zeigler in Juried Exhibit.” The Sag Harbor Express , Volume 139 Number 15, p. 8.
October 23, 1997 Sansegundo, Sheridan. “In the Galleries.” The East Hampton Star , Volume CX Number 11, Section III, p. 6.
August 10, 1995 “Zeigler’s Paintings Featured in Display.” The Lebanon Democrat . Illustration.
August 4, 1995 “Divergent artists to exhibit works at Art League.” Cape Island Voice .
August 3, 1995 “Divergent artists to exhibit works at Art League.” Cape May Star and Wave .
November 1988 Kent, Jonathan. “Bunn Gray, Nashville’s Renaissance Man.” The Monocle , Volume 1, Number 3, pp. 1011.
May 18, 1982 “FHS student finalist in art competition.” The ReviewAppeal, p. 5. Illustration.
STATEMENT
The French word collage, from the verb coller, means, “painting, sticking or gluing as in application of wall paper.” Its invention is credited to Picasso. Other artists such as Matisse and Kurt Schwitters expanded on this invention and have in turn affected my work.
My process involves collage as well as painting and sanding. But, stages in the process also guide the progress of the painting. Therefore chance is a component of my work. To many modern artists, no matter how powerful their imaginations, chance seems infinitely more resourceful and productive, a more creative tool than anything deliberate or willed. For example, Matisse often began a painting with no clear idea of how the final picture would look.
The English critic, Lawrence Alloway wrote, “Objects have a history: first they are brand new goods; then they are possessions accessible to few, subjected, often to intimate and repeated use; then, as waste, they are scarred by use but available again... Assemblages of such material come at the specter as bits of life, bits of the environment.”
Using materials and objects, such as coins, checks and stock certificates, for their own qualities in an artistic context is to invite the observer to see them in a completely new way, divorced from their normal purpose. I find the texture of such surfaces with their strong suggestions of tactile qualities, provides me with a visual experience that is a mixture of sensory impressions. My paintings are notable not only for their tactile qualities but the sculptural textures and vivid colors. This is achieved by building layers upon layers of material, utilizing edges, perforations and crevices, which trap pigment, creating visual excitement while at the same time revealing the inherent beauty of these everyday materials.
These materials are works already in progress: prepared for me by the outside world, previously formed, textured through handling the items, colored, and randomly stamped. Coins for example are unifying, man-made “artifacts” and identifiable. Their collective use establishes grid patterns. Keys on the other hand represent people, in that they are all made out of the same material (brass) yet with individual qualities, histories, secrets and characters. The subject in all of my work is surface and color. Paint is as much an object as the materials are in my work.
I draw sustenance from everywhere: from the totality of moral, intellectual and temporal as well as physical and sensory. My ever-changing environment and my life experiences affect my work. Titles are derived from many diverse sources such as moods evoked by certain paintings while others are taken from the immediate working environment. Everything I see exerts, however unconsciously, an influence on what I create.