David Pearson's Resume

Each one of David Pearson’s sculptures has an individuality and an authoritative presence that creates a relationship between the viewer and the work of art. No matter how contained, cool and elegant the figure, a Pearson bronze projects a classical balance between vulnerability and dignity, between its own inner life and its connection with the human race.

One has seen this perfect tension before, usually in museums which house collections from antiquity. Pearson’s sculptures do not borrow stylistically from anyone, yet their intuitive essence corresponds on a peer level with Nefertiti, Gothic cathedrals, the Russian icons and their artistic heirs: Vermeer, Archipenko, Braque and Giacometti. Unlike the swarming, labored Hellenic and Victorian statuary and the excesses of post-Modernism, all of Pearson’s works have a common thread of reserve, grace, depth --- qualities which have grown increasingly rare in recent times.

In Pearson’s hands, these qualities imbue each figure with a quiet radiance. They crackle with the humor and angst of a solid contemporary consciousness, functioning fully in the present moment while exhibiting the electric calm of the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Not for Pearson is the tortured theatricality of art as political propaganda. “For me, art is a personal venture,” he explains. “I’m not out to change the world, but to change a few people who are free to like my work because they like it. I address people with good collections, and galleries with a vision who structure themselves behind the work of their artists. I feel that these people are as important as the artists themselves because they complete the communication.”

Pearson drives his vision below the surface of a sculpture, bringing forth fundamental emotions by means of proportion, posture, and a certain degree of abstraction. The abstract elements are never irrelevant. Look closely: the painterly Cubistic breaking up of a torso, combined with slightly raised shoulders, heavy hands and feet and the most telling interplay of positive and negative space all combine to subtly portray the gut feeling of a watershed personal change. One figure seems to be a veteran of the inner wars, eroded but though as driftwood, maintaining his privacy behind sunglasses; another is a figure who lifts her face unselfconsciously into a fresh wind.

David Pearson’s work exudes the fine craftsmanship and seasoned vision of a lifetime, so it comes as a surprise to learn that the artist is still a relatively young man. One soon realizes that here is an old soul who had the wisdom, early on, to bypass the conventional routes of academe and go straight for a Renaissance style education. For two decades he has collaborated with some of the great names in American sculpture, casting their work in bronze as a senior foundry master. All the while, he has steeped himself in art history and developed his own style, thus building up an international record of gallery exhibitions. In the process he has himself become a mature Renaissance man.

Stephen Saunders Saunders
International Sculpture Garden
Washington, D.C.

 

Recent Highlights of David Pearson's Career:

2009 Public Art Purchase by Los Alamos National Bank, Santa Fe "Reverence"

2009 Madison Valley Medical Hospital, Ennis, Montana "Angelic Being"

2007 Governor's Mansion, Santa Fe, New Mexico "Une Danse de Reve"

2006 Industry Award, Sculpural Pursuit National Competition "Love Songs"

2005 Honorable Mention, Sculptural Pursuit Magazine "Songs for the Soul"

2004 Public Art Purchase by Los Alamos National Bank, Santa Fe "Transcend"

2004 Public Art Purchase by Los Alamos National Bank, Santa Fe "Innocence"

2004 Public Art Purchase by City Of Edmond, Oklahoma "Destiny"

2004 Public Art Purchase by Gastonia Memorial Hospital, NC "Finch"

2004 Public Art Purchase by First Commercial Bank, OK "Angelic Being"

2003 Honorable Mention, Museum of the Southwest, TX "Nightingale"

2002 White House Artist for Christmas Tree "Unique Bronze Bird"

2002 Award Winner, National Competition Gateway Museum, NM "Swan Song"

2002 Public Art Purchase by City of Edmond, Oklahoma "Innocence"

2002 Public Art Purchase by City of Edmond/Shadid, Oklahoma "Morning Mist"

 

BORN: September 20, 1958

EDUCATION / APPRENTICESHIP:

1975-1981 Shidoni Foundry: Apprentice to Fine Art Casting Method, Lost Wax - Mold Making, Wax Pattern, Metal Finishing and Patina.

1982-1992 Art Foundry: Director and Master Sculptor.

1992-1995 Casting project for Notre Dame College football Hall of Fame (700+ reliefs) of individual coaches and players.

1995-1997 Allan Houser Inc. - Designed and built foundry for production of all remaining editions to be cast in bronze. Patina master and mold restorer for all remaining editions.

EXHIBITIONS:

2009 Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2008 Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2007 Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2006 Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2005 Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2004 Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2003 Museum of the Southwest, Midland, *Honorable Mention
        Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2002 White House Ornament Artist, Washington D.C. *Governors Choice
        Gateway Museum, Farmington, NM *Award Winner, National Competition
        Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2001 Washington Home and Garden Show, Washington, D.C.
        Longview Museum of Fine Art, Longview, T
        Sculpture-in-the-Park Annual Invitational, Loveland, CO
        Albuquerque Museum of Fine Art, “Miniatures 01” Albuquerque, NM
        Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

2000 “Miniatures 00” Albuquerque Museum of Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM
        Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM One Person Exhibit

1999 “Miniatures 99” Albuquerque Museum, NM
        Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM One Person Exhibit

1998 Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM One Person Exhibit

1997 Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM One Person Exhibit

1996 Perry House Gallery, Washington D.C. April “The Best of Perry House”
        Perry House Gallery, Washington D.C. January

1994 Open Studio, Santa Fe, NM. October
        Perry House Gallery, Washington D.C. November

1992 Atherton Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
        Saunders International Sculpture Gallery, Washington D.C. November
        College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM

1991 One-Person Exhibit, Atherton Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
        Tideline Gallery, Rehoboth Beach, DE

1990 Central Park Gallery, Kansas City, Kansas

1989 Pacific Enterprises Exhibit, Los Angeles, CA *Purchased several pieces for collection

1988 American Medallion Sculpture Association,
        Janus Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

1987 Jamison Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

1985 Hunter Museum of Art Chattanooga, TN

1983 Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Scottsdale, AZ

1981 College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
        Art Spirit Gallery, Boulder, CO
        Midland College, Midland, TX

1979 Shidoni Gallery, Tesuque, NM
        Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, CO
        Lambert Gallery, Dallas, TX

PUBLIC ART COLLECTIONS:

2009 Los Alamos National Bank, Santa Fe, NM, "Reverence"

2009 Madison Valley Medical Hospital, Montana, "Angelic Being"

2007 Governor's Mansion, Santa Fe, NM, "Une Danse de Reve"

2005 City of Edmond, Oklahoma, “Silent Desert”

2004 Los Alamos National Bank, Santa Fe, NM "Innocence"

2004 Los Alamos National Bank, Santa Fe, NM "Transcend"

2004 Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia, N.C. "Finch"

2004 First Commercial Bank, Edmond, OK "Angelic Being" 5'8" high

2003 St. Luke's Hospital, Woodlands, TX "Bonsai"

2002 White House Collection - a unique bronze bird

2002 City of Edmond, Oklahoma 2 life-size bronzes

2002 Capital Art Collection "Love Doves", New Mexico

1999 Pinnfund, Carlsbad, CA 1 life-size bronze, 1 40" bronze

1990 Pacific Enterprises, Los Angeles, CA - (2) 29" bronzes

PUBLIC INSTALLATION PROJECTS:

1998 Enlarged Terry Allen’s sculpture of “Stubbs”, a seven-foot commission in Lubbock, TX.

1996 Enlarged, cast, and applied patina for Terry Allen’s sculpture, “Golden Time“, on top of the Sony Entertainment Astair Building in Los Angeles, CA. Directed and oversaw installation from start to finish.

1990/91 Enlarged, cast, and applied patina for Terry Allen’s sculptures which include “Shaking Man” in San Francisco, CA, and “Corporate Head” at Citi-corps Plaza in Los Angeles, CA.

1989 Enlarged, cast, applied patina, and installed Ron Cooper’s “13’ Vessel” in downtown, Los Angeles.

1983/84 Enlarged, cast, applied patina, and installed Una Hanbury’s sculptures of the Lions as well as the Phoenix Bird at the Albuquerque Zoo.

** While serving as director of the Art Foundry from 1984 through 1999, David collaborated and sculpted on projects from their inception to their installation with:

Terry Allen Kiki Smith
David Salle Bruce Nauman
Linda Benglis Win Knolton
Peter Shelton Chuck Arnoldi
Laddie John-Dill Ron Cooper
Peter LaDato Bill Barrett
Allan Houser Luis Jimenez
Tom Otterness Fritz Scholder

PUBLICATIONS:

2009 Western Art Collector, 4 page feature, October
        Indian Country Today, 2 pages, August 12th
        Art Business News, "Outdoor Sculpture" issue
        Western Art and Architecture, 5 pages, Spring issue

2008 Local Flavor, Cover feature, November
        Santa Fean Magazine, 6 pages, October
        Focus Santa Fe, Cover feature, August/September

2007 Art Talk, Cover feature, January
        Art Business News, February 2-page feature
        Gallery Guide, Southwest issue, Cover feature
        Focus Santa Fe, Cover feature, August

2006 Southwest Art, November, 5 page color spread
        “The Path of a Sculptor” Fresco Fine Art Publications
        Award Winner for “Love Songs” Sculptural Pursuit Magazine

2005 Honorable Mention Award, Sculptural Pursuit Magazine
        THE Magazine, Exhibition Review October issue
        Focus Santa Fe, October issue

2003 Southwest Art, "7 Sculptors to Watch" July issue

2002 ARTbook, "Ethereal Sculptures" Fall/Winter issue
        Pasatiempo, "Earth Angels" October 11th
        Focus Santa Fe, "Cover" June
        Edmond Life & Leisure, "Public Art Unveiled", April 18th
        Edmond Sun, "Age of Innocence" April 14th
        Edmond Sun, "Art in Public", January 27th

2001 New Mexico Magazine, “The Alan Houser Touch”, March
        Focus Santa Fe, October issue

2000 THE Magazine, Review, October issue
        Focus Santa Fe Magazine, “Cover Feature”, June
        Southwest Art, “Artists to Watch”, February
        Santa Fe Reporter, “Desiring Good Art”, February 9th

1999 THE Magazine, October
        Focus Santa Fe Magazine, Oct/Nov/Dec
        ARTnews, September

1998 Santa Fean Magazine, October
        Focus Santa Fe Magazine, Oct/Nov/Dec
        ARTnews, October
        Pasatiempo Arts Magazine, October 9th

1997 Art-Talk, October
        Pasatiempo Arts Magazine, October 19th
        Santa Fean Magazine, February 6th

1994 Gazette Packet Alexandria Port, December 22nd

1993 Pasatiempo Arts Magazine, May