Nathan Porterfield
Artist Statement
My current work involves individual identity in current culture, in reference to American history. Using accessible, common materials, I create a confluence of patterns to imply the intersection of countless sensibilities and convictions. The imagery has developed recently into portraits, or sorts, in which the subjects (Units of Resistance) express their perspectives. The titles are generally drawn from historical quotes or from the concept of progress.
Individuals, in the throes of resistance. Identity in the shadow of bias. Empathy in spite of misunderstanding. Privilege in conversation with poverty. Oppressed becoming oppressor.
These works are an homage to those, oppressed and repressed who have stood for change and therein been the backbone of progress. They are portraits of personal individuality, yet homogeneous spirit.
Artist Statement
My current work involves individual identity in current culture, in reference to American history. Using accessible, common materials, I create a confluence of patterns to imply the intersection of countless sensibilities and convictions. The imagery has developed recently into portraits, or sorts, in which the subjects (Units of Resistance) express their perspectives. The titles are generally drawn from historical quotes or from the concept of progress.
Individuals, in the throes of resistance. Identity in the shadow of bias. Empathy in spite of misunderstanding. Privilege in conversation with poverty. Oppressed becoming oppressor.
These works are an homage to those, oppressed and repressed who have stood for change and therein been the backbone of progress. They are portraits of personal individuality, yet homogeneous spirit.
Artist C.V.
EDUCATION
M.F.A. 2008 Printmaking
Texas Christian University (TCU)
B.F.A. 2004 Printmaking
The University of Texas at Tyler (UTT)
A.A. 2001 Art, Paris Junior College (PJC)
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2008-present Museum Preparator/Art Storage Manager
Displays Fine Art Service, Unified Fine Arts, Amon Carter Museum, Kimbell Art Museum, Crystal
Bridges Museum of American Art
2010 Drawing Instructor
Art Adventures (drawing for adults), TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
2009 Drawing Instructor
Art Adventures (drawing for adults), TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
Judge, Private School Interscholastic Association Onsite Drawing Contest,
Duties: Evaluation and rating of drawings
2008 Visiting Artist, Paris Junior College, Paris, Texas
Duties: Solo Exhibition, Gallery Talk, Guest Critique
Art Handler, Displays Unlimited Inc.
Duties: handling, installing, traveling with Two and three-dimensional art.
Teaching Assistant Professor Sara Dornner – Drawing I
Department of Art and Art History, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
Duties: supervise students in development of beginning drawing skills
2006-2007 Gallery Assistant, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
Duties: curate and install visiting exhibitions
2006 Curator, Surface, Tandy Hall Atrium gallery, The M.J. Neely School of Business, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
2004 Printer for Dr. William Stephens, UTT, Tyler Texas
Committee Chair, Xenophobia, Invitational Print Portfolio, UTT, Tyler, Texas
GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS (awards/honors)
2016 2nd Place – Acme Brick Award, Art in the Metroplex, Annual Juried Exhibition, Fort Worth
Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, Texas
2008 1st Place Beth Lea and John L. Clardy Memorial Award, Art in the Metroplex, Annual Juried Exhibition,
TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
2nd Place, 1st Annual Juried Art Show, Traveling Exhibition, Northern Trust, Stuart and Vero Beach, Florida,
and Lighthouse Center for the Arts, Tequesta, Florida
Merit Award, 22nd Annual International Juried Show, Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit, New Jersey
2006-2008 Full Tuition Remission and Stipend, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
EXHIBITIONS (solo exhibitions marked by asterisk)
2017 Artspace 111 Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, Artspace 111 Gallery, Fort Worth, Texas.
Juror: Shirley Reese Hughs, Curator, Amon Carter Museum of American Art
(Anticipated) *Solo Exhibition/Visiting Artist, Laredo Community College, Laredo, Texas
TAC Impromptu Invitational, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, Texas
2016 11th Annual TAC Juried Membership Exhibit, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, Texas.
Juror: Clint Willour, Curator, Galveston Arts Center
Art in the Metroplex, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, Texas. Juror: Annette DiMeo
Carlozzi, independent Curator, Austin, Texas (formerly Blanton Museum)
2013 Dark Matter (RJP Nomadic Gallery at Blue Star Contemporary), San Antonio, Texas
2010 Experiencing Perspectives, annual Juried Exhibition, Diamler Chrysler, Fort Worth, Texas
TRISTEZA-Artwork by Nathan Porterfield and Bert Herrington, Casa Manana Gallery, Fort Worth, Texas
2009 Experiencing Perspectives, Diamler Chrystler Annual Exhibition Fort Worth, Texas
2008 Art in the Metroplex, Annual Juried Exhibition, Moudy Gallery, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
Juror: Eleanor Heartney, Independent Cultural Critic, New York, New York
*Visiting Artist Solo Exhibition, Paris Junior College, Paris, Texas
*Nathan Porterfield at Corner Square Artworks, Corner Square Artworks, Clarksville, Texas
*Suspended, MFA Thesis Exhibition, TCU University Gallery, Fort Worth, Texas
Crosstalk, Juried Exhibition, TCU University Gallery, Fort Worth, Texas
1st Annual Juried Art Show, Traveling Exhibition, Northern Trust, Stuart and Vero Beach, Florida, and
Lighthouse Center for the Arts, Tequesta, Florida
Juror: Charles A. Stainback, William and Sara Ross Soter Curator of Photography, Norton Museum of Art
22nd Annual International Juried Show, Juried Exhibition, Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit, NJ
Juror: Carter Foster, Curator of Drawing, Whitney Museum of American Art
EXPO 2008, Juried Exhibition, 500x Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2007 Buzzworms in the Backyard, Juried Exhibition, Fort Worth Community Art Center, Fort Worth, Texas
TCU Graduate Exhibition, Fort Worth Fall Gallery Night, Graduate Student Gallery, Fort Worth, Texas
Junior/Senior Prom, Annual Open Show, 500x Gallery, Dallas, Texas
Sprung, Graduate Exhibition, Graduate Painting Studio Gallery, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
2006 Surface, Juried Student Exhibition, M.J. Neely School of Business, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
CONFERENCES
University of Texas at Tyler Art History Conference, UTT, Tyler, Texas, Participant
TECHNICAL ABILITIES
Various etching and intaglio processes, photo-lithography, screen printing, relief printing, digital printing, mixed media drawing and collage processes. Handling, storage, installation, fine art collection care.
EXHIBITIONS CURATED
Sprung, Graduate Exhibition, Graduate Painting Studio Gallery, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
Surface, Juried Student Exhibition, M.J. Neely School of Business, TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
COLLECTIONS
Jennifer Ritchie, Private Collection, Dallas, Texas
Alan and Becky Hale, Round Rock, Texas
Kristen and Darryl Lauster, Arlington, Texas
David and Jenniver Murray, Private Collection, Fort Worth, Texas
David and Pam Glass, Private Collection, Paris, Texas
Cathie Tyler, Private Collection, Paris, Texas
Kay Watson, Private Collection, Dallas, Texas
Carter Foster (curator of drawing – Whitney Museum of American Art), Private Collection, New York, NY
Patricia Bell, Private Collection, South Orange, New Jersey
Howard & Donna Margolis, Private Collection, Short Hills, New Jersey
Laura Fromm, Private Collection, Short Hills, New Jersey
Gardner Private Collection, Dallas, Texas
PORTFOLIOS/COLLABORATIONS
H20, 2007 Invitational Print Portfolio, Cedar Hill, Texas
Xenophobia, 2004 Invitational Print Portfolio, UTT, Tyler, Texas
2004 Postcard Print Exchange, National Print Exchange, University Print Society, University of Iowa,
Ames, Iowa
