Artist Bio
Born in Norman, Oklahoma
Grew up in Southern California.
Received B.F.A. degree from Cal State Univ. Fullerton.
Received M.F.A. degree from School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Has worked as freelance illustrator & photographer for 20 years.
Currently lives in Santa Fe with his wife, Gretchen, a freelance writer, and their son, Max.
Represented in Santa Fe at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art,435 South Guadalupe 505.982-8111
Represented in Chicago at wag artworks,2121 West Division. 773.772-2922
To view more of Russell's work, go to www.zanebennettgallery.com.
Artist Statement
The working process of painting is like a journey without a map. Most of the time, I’m not sure what direction the work will take. In the encaustic process, accidents often happen. Layers get covered and then scraped off; objects, like actual butterflies, flowers, toys, or microchips, get added. The melted wax runs ands drips in unexpected ways. I welcome the accidents; they help to shape the aesthetics and the meaning of the painting. They point me in the direction the painting wants to take. It sometimes can be frustrating to work that way, but it’s always exciting and revelatory.
I look at every painting as an experiment, an exploration, and also a collaboration, between my plans and the painting’s. Sometimes the work becomes a mirror, reflecting the world I’m trying to make sense of. Other times, it’s a window into a place I’d like to escape to. If I hadn’t become an artist, I probably would have been a scientist (if I was better at math). I want to understand the nature of things—which means I’ll always have material. There’s no end of discoveries to make.
Resume
MFA, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL / 1985
BFA, California State University, Fullerton, CA / 1982
Exhibitions / Solo
Too Close to the Sun, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM / 2009
Russell Thurston: New Work, The Gallery at R & F, Kingston, NY / 2009
180 Degrees Wax: Hot and Cold, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM / 2007
Natural Selection: New Paintings, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL / 2006
Wax Paper: New Encaustic Works on Paper, WAG Artwork, Chicago, IL / 2006
Waxy Buildup: New Encaustic Paintings, Cruz Gallery, Santa Fe, NM / 2005
New Works: Paintings by Russell Thurston, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL / 2005
The Sin Paintings, Big Cat Gallery, New York, NY / 2004
New Works: Paintings by Russell Thurston, Gallery Blue, Santa Fe, NM / 2003
Group
4th Annual Encaustic Invitational, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, AZ / 2009
Metamorphosis: A Juried Show of Encaustic Work, Haydon Art Center, Lincoln, NE / 2009
On the Edge: Invitational Encaustic Show, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA / 2008
Points of View, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM / 2006
Small Works, Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM / 2006
Summer Show, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL / 2005
8 X 8 Small Works Show, Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM / 2005
The Seven Sins Show, Phildes Gallery, New York, NY / 2005
The Seductive Surface, Turner Carroll Gallery, Santa Fe, NM / 2005
Publications
“Welcome to Encaust Co.” Artist show preview. Pasatiempo Arts Magazine, Santa Fe New Mexican, March 20 / 2009
"They Melt In Your Car, Not In the Gallery,” Pasatiempo artist profile, Santa Fe New Mexican, August / 2005
"Waxy Buildup Preview,” THE Magazine, August / 2005
“Editors’ Choice,” The Santa Fe Reporter, August / 2005
Representation
Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
Collections
Sony Music Corporate Headquarters, Los Angeles, CA
American Medical Association Headquarters, Chicago, IL
Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA
Hotel Monaco, Chicago, IL
Professional Experience
Breaking the Rules, Encaustic Workshop on Mixed Media and the Encaustic Process, Kingston, NY / 2009
Integrating Oils and Dry Pigments Into the Encaustic Process, International Encaustic Conference, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA / 2008
Basics of Encaustic II, Encaustic Workshop, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL / 2007
Basics of Encaustic, Encaustic Workshop, WAG Artworks, Chicago, IL / 2007
