Byron Gates Jr

Profile

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 making an image of a friend. Taking commonplace subjects and finding visually pleasing art within, art that projects a unique view of a familiar, 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.”

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, Canada, China, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam.

My art/images can be found in the collections of:

Ms. Judy Williams/Mr. Michael Williams/Louisiana
The United States Navy Museum/Washington, DC
Mr. Tommy Gibbs/Ms. Andrea Wilson/Louisiana
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. Brandon K. Jenkins/Louisiana
Mr./Ms. Robert Neighbors/Arkansas
Mr./Ms. Louis Hejtmanek/Louisiana
Ms. Donna Bartholomew/Louisiana
Ms. Mary Beth O’Connor/Louisiana
Mr./Ms. Rodger Browder/Louisiana
Mr./Ms. Robert Trudeau/Louisiana
Mr. Ben Wade Rushing/Louisiana
Mr./Ms. George Gaw/New York
Mr./Ms. Gary Parson/Arkansas
Mr./Ms. Alex Fountain/Kansas
Ms. Ann Reid Mills/Louisiana
Ms. Pam Atchison/Louisiana
Ms. Polly Fleming/Louisiana
Mr. Rick Scott/Kauai, Hawaii
Mr. Tony Sanders/California
Ms. Donna Mann/Louisiana
Mr./Ms. Dave Ivey/Louisiana
Ms. Shannon Wylie/Oregon
Mr. Dan Buller/Louisiana

Shows:

ArtCenter College of Design, Los Angeles/Student group shows
University of California, Santa Barbara/Group show
Newport Beach, California/Multilpe gallery group shows
Corona Del Mar, California/One person show
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge/Student show
Laguna Beach, California/Multiple gallery group shows
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii/Gallery group show
Los Angeles, California/Multiple one person and group shows
Shreveport, Louisiana/Multiple one person and group shows
Dallas, Texas/Gallery group and private shows

Constructive criticism:

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

Thanking you in advance,
Byron Gates Jr
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