Exhibition Closing: Richard Hunt: Drawing in Space at Dorsky Gallery

With a prolific career spanning more than fifty years, Richard Hunt (b. 1935) is primarily known for his monumental public sculptures across the country. While abstract, the dynamism of his biomorphic sculptures superbly captures the movement of life and the human spirit.  The fluidity of the bronze resembles gestural lines as if “drawing in space,” a term used by Spanish sculptor Julio González (1876-1942) and a concept that inspired Hunt as an emerging sculptor.

His early works were scraps of metal from Chicago’s junkyards cobbled together improvisatorially. Anthropomorphic creations came together with a welding torch, a hammer and an artist eye.  As Hunt began to hone his craft, his sculptures expanded in scale and complexity, requiring him to tap into his drawing roots and become a draftsman. However, the planning needed to accomplish such large sculptures does not detract from their ability to convey energy. Hunt’s hand is still very visible as the bronze, aluminum or steel are still welded together, then sanded to perfection.Hunt’s commitment to metal has made him a true master of his medium; however, he also creates vibrant works on paper that echo the energy of his sculptures. The frenetic lines of his drawings and lithographs provide a glimpse into the restraint Hunt needs when working with metal. While even his drawings and lithographs evoke a three-dimensional, sculptural, and organic sense, it is especially in his copper-resist etchings that sculpture and drawing, two- and three-dimensions,  and metal and graphic are perfectly combined.

Dorsky Gallery represented Hunt in New York from the 60s through the 80s and the Dorsky family maintains a strong professional and personal relationship to this day. Most of the works on exhibit date from his time with Dorsky. Hunt’s three sculptures from the 2000s are on loan from David Findlay, Jr. Gallery, his current New York gallery.