Tad Lauritzen Wright

Based on a True Story
acrylic on canvas
36 X 40"
2005

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Tad Lauritzen Wright's images

Tad Lauritzen Wright, Memphis,TN

Represented by: David Lusk Gallery contact person: Jennifer Todd

Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts:
Nebraska Wesleyan University, 1994
Master of Fine Arts:
Memphis College of Art, 2002

I am interested in the variety of visual associations that communication builds and the open-ended interpretations that become part of a works content. I present associations some random and some calculated, creating an open ended narrative within the work. I tell stories that can have a variety of endings, or perhaps, no ending at all.
I search for and create ideas with a sense of humor. I sample and develop images and words from high and low forms of culture, past and present, and particularly from the fuzzy margin where they intersect. They same work can contain references to the Mona Lisa and low-class country song lyrics. I absorb color from fast cars, old walls, and bad dye jobs. I don’t think about beauty, except as a joke. I am more interested in powerful simplicity.

Solo Exhibition
2007 Koelsch Gallery, Houston Texas
2006 David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN. Philosophy of Beauty
2006 Julie Baker Gallery, Nevada City, CA. Sugar Coated
2005 Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE. Depending on Altered Legends
2005 Scope, Hamptons, NY Wordfinds and 1 Lines
2004 David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN. Incomplete History of My Memories
2003 Scope, Miami, FL. Love on the Installment Plan
2002 David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN. Brave Clean and Reverent
2002 Haydon Fine Art , Lincoln, NE. Rickety Slick
2002 Memphis College of Art, Memphis, TN. Evolution of Observation
1999 Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE. Hobo Symbols
1998 Aardvarx Gallery, Lincoln, NE. Half Naked Half Dead
1997 Aardvarx Gallery, Lincoln, NE. Paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures

Group Exhibitions
2006 I Love the Burbs, Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY
2006 Works on Paper, New York
2006 Koelsch Gallery, Text, Houston, TX.
2006 Flying High, The Vault, Memphis, TN.
2005 Scope Miami, Miami, FL
2005 New Orleans Triennial, New Orleans, LA
2005 American Drawing Biennial 8, Williamsburg, VA
2005 Scope, New York, New York City, NY
2005 Koelsch Gallery, Houston, TX.
2005 San Francisco International Art Expo, San Francisco, CA
2004 Affordable Art Fair, New York
2004 Koelsch Gallery, Group Drawing Show, Houston, TX.
2004 The Flower Show, Jonesboro, AR
2004 San Francisco International Art Expo, San Francisco, CA
2004 Works on Paper, New York
2003 Affordable Art Fair, New York
2003 MAX 2003, Memphis, TN (curated by Beth Venn)
2003 Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center / Little Rock, AR
2003 New American Paintings-Southern Style, Jonesboro, AR
2003 The Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
2003 Works on Paper at the Armory, New York
2003 Haydon Gallery Group Exhibition, Lincoln, NE
2003 Artrageous, Memphis,TN
2003 San Francisco International Art Expo
2002 David Lusk Gallery Group Show, Memphis, TN
2002 The Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
2002 Memphis College of Art, MFA Exhibition
2002 Haydon Gallery Group Exhibition, Lincoln, NE
2002 New American Paintings, issue 40
2001 Arts in the Park, Memphis, TN (curated by Shamim Momin)
2001 The Word in Art, Swan Coach Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2001 Gaming Interactive Exhibition, MCA Graduate Center, Memphis, TN
2001 The Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
2001 Haydon Gallery Group Exhibition, Lincoln, NE
2001 8x8x8 Exhibition, Memphis, TN
2001 Haydon Gallery Prints and Paper Exhibition, Lincoln, NE
2000 David Lusk Gallery Group Show, Memphis, TN
2000 Haydon Fine Art Small Treasures Show, Lincoln, NE
2000 Memphis College of Art Group Show, Memphis, TN
1999 Fred Wells National Art Competition, Lincoln, NE.

Awards / Competitions
2005 Guest Artist Tamarind Printmaking Institute
2005 Resident Vermont Studio Center
2004 Drawing Center Slide File
2002 Urban Art Commission, Public Library art enhancement project
2001 Arts in the Park, Best of Show
1999 Fred Wells National Competition
1999 Gallery 9 Juried Competition, Best of Show
1993 NWU Juried Exhibition, Best of Show, Gerber Award

Collections
Tamarind Printmaking Institute, Albuquerque, NM.
Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR.
Radio Shack, Ft. Worth, TX.
Pfizer, Inc., Memphis, TN.
Lokion, Memphis, TN.
Memphis/Shelby County Library and Information Center, Collierville, TN.
Deloitte and Touche, Memphis, TN.
MKG Management, Houston, TX.
Hallmark, Kansas City, MO.

Professional Experience
2001- present Instructor, Memphis College of Art, Memphis,TN
2002 Instructor, Midsouth Community College, West Memphis, AR

Publications
The Omaha Reader, 2005
New American Paintings 2004, issue 52
Memphis Commercial Appeal, 8 October 2004
New American Paintings 2002, issue 40
Lincoln Journal Star, 14 July 2002
Memphis Business Journal, 12-18 July 2002
Bluff Papers, 2000
Daily Nebraskan, 1999