Amazing Abstract in Burnished Bronze

 This substantial sinuous sculpture of contrasting bright bronze and blackened patina appears to soar and spiral skywards. 

It was created by the Bennett brothers, Bob and Tom, as a limited edition in 1982. 

The Bennett brothers were identical twins who worked together to create fluid, flowing sculptures in gleaming golden bronze, ranging from undulating abstracts to sleek human forms. The brothers were born in 1939, in Rotan, Texas, moving to California in the 1950s. In 1969, they began their joint art career by creating welded wire sculptures at the a gas station they owned. Following the success of these one-of-a kind creations, the brothers began to work in bronze. In the late 1970s, the brothers founded Bennett Sculpture and built a foundry to cast their designs to their exacting standards. By the 1980s, the brothers had opened a number of galleries in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Illinois, and Texas to showcase their limited edition works. However, the brothers later decided to concentrate on their art and in the 1990s closed the galleries and foundry. Bob Bennett passed away in 2003 and Tom died in 2016 from complications of Parkinson's disease. 

In addition to their art being featured in collections throughout the world, the brothers' sculptures have been presented to world leaders such as President George H.W. Bush, Pope John Paul II, and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. They created a pair of 16-foot sculptures for the original Arco Arena building, as well was other public art, and designed an award for Elle magazine’s annual “Women in Hollywood” event, which has been presented to such recipients as Salma Hayek, Nicole Kidman and Barbra Streisand.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

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Awesome Abstract

This monumental painting is by Richard Stout (1934-2020), a Texas artist renown for his abstract works, often incorporating landscape and architectural elements, and his masterful blending of vibrant colors. Born in Beaumont, Stout studied at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and the Art Institute of Chicago, attaining his MFA from the University of Texas at Austin. Stout arrived in Houston in 1959 and was an instructor at the Museum School of the Houston Museum of Fine Art until 1967. He taught as an associate professor of art at the University of Houston from 1969 through 1996. Stout was an important figure in the Houston art community for 60 years, mentoring many younger artists. His works have been exhibited in museums throughout Texas, the United States, and abroad, including the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the Witte Museum, the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, the El Paso Museum of Art, and the Contemporary Arts Museum. The Houston Art League named Stout the Artist of the Year in 2004. His works are in many private and public collections, including the Huntington Gallery at the University of Texas in Austin, Kupferstichkaabinett, Museum of Fine Art in Dresden,The McNay Museum in San Antonio, The Menil Collection in Houston, and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

 This work is not signed, but in an email exchange with the consignor, Stout confirms that the painting is definitely his work and dates between 1996 and 1967 when he was studying for his MFA. A copy of the emails will be included with the artwork (the consignor's name is blacked out for privacy reasons).

All listed items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

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