Byron Gates Jr

Byron Gates Jr artist/photographer/writer

Artist Statement: “Art has been an integral and welcomed partner in my life for as long as I can recall. I have always been attracted to shapes and textures and color and people as subjects; I never have to go far to find an encouraging point of interest, whether recording tiny rain drops on a fallen leaf or an abstract late afternoon shadow lingering from an old fire escape or shooting a portrait. Taking commonplace subjects and finding visually pleasing art within, art that projects a unique view of a familiar subject, that allows me to go beyond the obvious and discover what is often invisible to the casual observer. I seek images that portray the not so obvious, of the obvious; images of what we are exposed to every day of our lives, but often do not see.
Having to answer to no one, my creative efforts are mine alone; I can explore as I wish, go where I please and create as I desire. It is this freedom that allows me to produce the imagery I see, and art that I am proud of.”
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I have been privileged to visit/live and make images in:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Washington State, Canada, China, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
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My art/images can be found in the collections of:

The United States Navy Museum/Washington, DC
Ms. Michelle Gillette/Mr. Craig Schub/California
Ms. Sherry Andrean/Mr. Jonathan Owen/Wales
Ms. Paula O’Neal/Ms. Debra Hines/Louisiana
Ms. Christie Starr Featherstone/California
Ms. Michelle Harrington/Kauai, Hawaii
Mr./Ms. Robert Neighbors/Arkansas
Mr./Ms. Louis Hejtmanek/Louisiana
Ms. Mary Beth O’Connor/Louisiana
Ms. Donna Bartholomew/Louisiana
Mr./Ms. Rodger Browder/Louisiana
Mr./Ms. Michael Williams/Louisiana
Mr./Ms. Robert Trudeau/Louisiana
Mr. Brandon K. Jenkins/Louisiana
Mr. Ben Wade Rushing/Louisiana
Mr./Ms. Alex Fountain/Arkansas
Mr./Ms. Gary Parson/Arkansas
Mr./Ms. George Gaw/New York
Mr./Ms. Dan Buller/Louisiana
Ms. Ann Reid Mills/Louisiana
Ms. Pam Atchison/Louisiana
Mr. Tony Sanders/California
Mr./Ms. Dave Ivey/Louisiana
Ms. Polly Fleming/Louisiana
Mr. Rick Scott/Kauai, Hawaii
Ms. Donna Mann/Louisiana
Ms. Shannon Wylie/Oregon

Shows:

ArtCenter College of Design, Los Angeles/Student & Group Shows
Los Angeles, California/Multiple One Person & Group Shows
Shreveport, Louisiana/Multiple One Person & Group Shows
Newport Beach, California/Multiple Gallery & Group Shows
Laguna Beach, California/Multiple Gallery & Group Shows
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge/Student Shows
University of California, Santa Barbara/Group Show
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii/Gallery & Group Show
Corona Del Mar, California/One Person Show
Dallas, Texas/Gallery Group & Private Shows

Constructive criticism:

I shall always welcome and invite your remarks, appreciate, encourage and read with an open heart all constructive criticism and/or personal observations regarding any of my work.

Thanx in advance,
Byron Gates Jr
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