The Martin Museum of Art at Baylor University will feature Kermit Oliver: Paintings and Hermès Scarves beginning May 4 and running though July 13. Kermit Oliver is a contemporary Texas artist working quietly from his home in Waco. Although recently retired, he became known as the “Painting Postman” after a series of articles detailing his humble life and public service were published. Kermit Oliver’s works have been called “painted collages” for the intricate, colorful, and realistic images. His compositions are often narrative with references to Greek and Roman mythology, Old and New Testament, and a plethora of wildlife.
Internationally, Kermit Oliver has a devout following for scarves he designs for the French fashion house, Hermès. In the 1980’s, he was the first American artist invited to create a design for the specialty scarves. The first scarf with a southwest theme became immensely popular. His seventeenth design titled La Vie sauvage du Texas is a limited edition of 2,000 was released this spring in Texas, but if does not sell out, it will be available at other locations in the Fall of 2014.
Kermit Oliver received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Art League of Houston in October of 2013. He is featured in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and the Dallas Museum of Art.
The Martin Museum of Art will concurrently feature Women in Art & Academia. The exhibition will bring together artwork of the Baylor Art Department faculty alongside selected women artists from institutions of higher learning throughout Texas. The Baylor faculty will be Leah Force, Virginia Green, Susan Mullally, H. Jennings Sheffield, and Mary Ruth Smith. The artists representing Texas academic programs from across the state will be Amie Adelman from the University of North Texas, Susan kae Grant from Texas Woman’s University, Melissa Miller from University of Texas, Nancy Palmeri from the University of Texas at Arlington, Beverly Penn from Texas State University, Libby Rowe from University of Texas at San Antonio, Gael Stack from the University of Houston, and Liz Ward from Trinity University.
Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas, Melissa Miller will give a Gallery Talk at 2:30pm on Monday, May 5. Miller is a celebrated painter and has exhibiting her work for over 30 years. Her paintings are featured in prestigious collections including the Hirshorn Museum, Washington, D.C; The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, the Dallas Museum of Art, Texas; and The National Museum of Women in Arts, Washington D.C.
The Martin Museum of Art is located in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center on the Baylor University campus. HOURS are 10am-6pm Tuesday – Friday, 10am-4pm Saturday and 1-4pm Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays and during university holidays. Admission is free and all events are open to the public, unless specified. For more information, or to schedule a group tour, please call 254-710-1867 or visit the museum website at www.baylor.edu/martinmuseum.