BORN: November 23, 1957
EDUCATION: Kansas City Art Institute (1979) and University of Colorado at Denver (1984)
FELLOWSHIPS:
Atelierhaus, Worpswede, Germany (1985-86)
Acadia Foundation, Northeast Harbor, ME (2009)
SELECTED COLLECTIONS:
Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York, NY
Arnot Art Museum - Elmira, NY
Denver Art Museum - Denver, CO
Evansville Museum of Art and Science - Evansville, IN
Philbrook Museum of Art - Tulsa, OK
Kansas City Art Institute - Kansas City, MO
Flint Institute of Arts - Flint, MI
Museum of New Mexico - Santa Fe, NM
Springfield Museum of Art - Springfield, OH
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - Tucson, AZ
Arkansas Art Center - Little Rock, AR
Reading Public Museum - Reading, PA
West Publishing Company - St Paul, MN
Amarillo Museum of Art - Amarillo, TX
Mint Museum - Charlotte, NC
San Jose Museum of Art - San Jose, CA
Longmont Museum and Cultural Center - Longmont, CO
Foothills Art Center - Golden, CO
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center - Colorado Springs, CO
Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art - Denver, CO
Acadia Foundation collection, Northeast Harbor, ME
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2015: Lemon Fall, Quidley and Company, Nantucket, MA
2012: Outside the Box, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2010: Scott Fraser Solo Exhibition - Pismo Fine Art, Aspen, CO
2007: New Works - J. Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY – Catalog
2004: Still Lifes With Magic and Mystery - Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA – Catalog
New Work -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA - Catalog
2003: Carson Gallery, Denver, CO
2002: Susan Duval Gallery, Aspen, CO -- Catalog
1999: Susan Duval Gallery, Aspen, CO
1998: Still Life -- Carson Gallery, Denver, CO
Still Life Paintings – traveling exhibit: Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK - Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, Evansville IN -- Catalog
1996: New Work -- Susan Duval Gallery, Aspen, CO
1994: Realism in Perspective -- Susan Duval Gallery, Aspen, CO
1993: Illusions of Reality -- Susan Duval Gallery, Aspen, CO
1990: Drawings and Paintings of Scott Fraser -- University of Northern Colorado Gallery, Greeley CO and Carson Gallery, Denver, CO
1989: Ink Washes -- Carson Gallery, Denver, CO
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2016:
American Still Life, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
Truth and Vision: 21st Century Realism, Delaware Art Museum
2015:
Conscious and Unconscious: Subjects of the Real and Surreal, Aravda Center for the Arts and Humanaties, Arvada, CO
Sonoran Intersections: Portraits of Disappeaering Wildlife, Universum, Museo de la Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City
Vanishing Circles, Sonora Desert Museum, Tuscon, AZ
Renaissance of Realism, Gallery 1261, Dever, CO
Coors Western, Denver, CO
2014:
Celebrate Summer, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Not So Still Life, Southport Galleries, Southport, CT
Windows to the Divine, ArtHAus, Denver, CO
Coors Western, National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO
2013:
Vanishing Circles, Leedy Volkos Art Center, Kansas City, MO
Vanishing Circles: Loosing Ground, Museo de Arte de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Fluid, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Evansville Collects: Contemporary American Still Life, Evansville, IN
2012:
Things are Not What They Seem, J. Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY
2011:
Vanishing Circles -- Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ
Peterson Collection -- New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
2010:
Realism in Diverse Media -- Imago Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
Small Works -- Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
The Annual Small Works Show 2010 -- MA Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK
Reality Check: Contemporary American Trompe L’oeil Painting – Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, PA
Between Realities – Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2009:
Super Real – The Citadelle Art Foundation, Amarillo, TX
Small Works – Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
On Paper – Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Winter Haiku – Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Beyond the Object Project – Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
2008:
Small Works – Gallery 1261, Denver CO
Winter Haiku -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco CA
Beyond Representation – Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco CA - Catalog
2007:
Small Works -- Gallery 1261, Denver CO
The Object Project – traveling exhibition: Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science, Evansville IN; Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville SC; Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa OK; Hunter Museum of American Art, Chatanooga TN; Museum of Outdoor Arts, Englewood CO – Catalog
Fraser, Switzer, Stoner: Still Life -- Longmont Museum and Cultural Center, Longmont, CO
REALationships: Works of Surreal Inspiration -- Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO
Eighth Annual Realism Invitational -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA - Catalog
2006:
To Be or Not to Be, 400 Years of Vanitas Paintings -- Flint Institute of Art, Flint, MI – Catalog
Seventh Annual Realism Invitational -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA – Catalog
2005:
House and Home -- C T E Gallery, Charlotte, NC
2004:
Revelation -- Mint Museum, Charlotte NC
Sixth Annual Realism Invitational -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Catalog
2003:
Re-representing Representation VI -- Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY
35th Anniversary Exhibition -- Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO
Magic Realism -- Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, Pueblo, CO
Fifth Annual Realism Invitational -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA – Catalog
2002:
Random Acts of Beauty -- Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO
Fourth Annual Realism Invitational -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA – Catalog
Gallery to Gallery -- J. Cacciola Gallery and Gallery Henoch, New York, NY
2001:
Form and Figure -- J. Cacciola Galleries, New York, NY
Third Annual Realism Invitational -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA – Catalog
Contemporary American Realism IV 2000: -- M.A. Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK
2000:
Second Annual Realism Invitational -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA –Catalog
Introductions -- J. Cacciola Galleries, New York, NY
Contemporary American Realism III -- M.A. Doran Gallery - Tulsa, OK
Annual Realism Show -- Van Vechten-Lineberry Taos Art Museum, Taos, NM
1999:
Re-representing Representation IV -- Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY – Catalog
Drawings -- John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA – Catalogue
New Realism for a New Millennium -- Memorial Art Gallery - University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
First Annual Realism Invitational -- Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA – Catalog
Trompe l'Oeil, Art and Illusion -- John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Poetics of Life -- Center of the Earth Gallery, Charlotte, NC
1998:
Realism '98 -- Amarillo Museum of Art , Amarillo, TX
Still Lifes and Florals -- John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
The Realist Mystique – Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO
American Still Life Paintings – M A Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK
1997:
Shared Treasures -- Museum of Fine Arts, Owensboro, KY
Patrick Hughes, Scott Fraser – Susan Duval Gallery, Aspen, CO
1996:
Colorado Artists: Recent Acquisitions -- Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
Arranging Things -- Contemporary American and European Still Life -- Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, Evansville, IN
Realism '96 -- Fletcher Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
American Realism: Past and Present -- 1856-1996 -- John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1995:
Realism '95 -- Vision and Poetry" -- Fletcher Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Artists of America --Denver, CO – Catalog
1994:
Contemporary Realism -- Gerold Wunderlich Gallery, New York NY
Slice of Life: Contemporary Still Life -- Riverside Art Museum, Riverside CA
Contemporary Perspectives II -- Louis Newman Galleries, Beverly Hills CA
Artists of America – Denver CO – Catalog
Realism '94 -- Fletcher Gallery, Santa Fe NM
An Original Idea -- Gerold Wunderlich Gallery, New York NY
Flowers in February -- Sherry French Gallery, New York NY
1993:
Contemporary Realism -- Gerold Wunderlich Gallery, New York NY
Much Ado About Something -- Close Range Gallery, Denver Art Museum, Denver CO
Artists of America – Denver CO – Catalog
Still Life 1963 - 1993 --Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe NM – Catalog
1992:
The Real Thing - Louis Newman Galleries, Beverly Hills CA
Artists of America – Denver CO - Catalog
1991:
Contemporary Still Life Painting -- Coe Kerr Gallery, New York NY
New Horizons in American Realism – traveling exhibition: Flint Institute of Arts, Flint MI;
Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples FL; Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville TN – Catalog, cover image
Artists of America – Denver CO -- Catalog
1990:
165th Annual Exhibition -- National Academy of Design, New York NY
1900 to Now -- Gerold Wunderlich Gallery,New York NY
Contemporary Realism -- Gerold Wunderich Gallery, New York NY
Rocky Mountain National Park 75th Anniversary Exhibition, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder CO
Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition award winner, Golden CO
1989:
Small Works -- Fendrick Gallery, Washington DC
Colorado Artists at the Kennedy Center -- Washington DC
The Food Show – Still Lifes by 66 American Artists -- Grand Central Art Galleries, New York NY -- Catalog
New Works - Grand Central Art Galleries, New York NY
Audubon Artists Exhibition - National Arts Club, New York NY
1988:
Trains and Planes: The Influence of Locomotion in American Painting – traveling exhibition: Sherry French Gallery, New York NY; National Academy of Sciences, Washington DC; Robertson Center for the Arts, Binghamton NJ; Evansville Museum of Arts, Evansville IN; Noyes Museum, Oceanville NY
52nd Annual National Midyear Show --Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown OH
Colorado State Fair Fine Art Exhibit -- Juror's Choice Award, drawing, Pueblo CO
Self Portraits -- Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada CO
1985:
Art and the Law: Honoring the US Supreme Court. – traveling exhibition: Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC; Alexandria Courthouse, Alexandria VA; Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids IA; Salt Lake Art Center, Salt Lake City UT; Minnesota Museum of Art.
1984:
Art and the Law – traveling exhibition: Minnesota Museum of Art, St. Paul MN; The Albany Museum of Art, Albany GA; South Texas College of Law, Houston TX; The Canton OH Art Institute, Canton OH
I have had an interest in painting since I was young. My parents framed a small painting of roses that I did at age 3. It now hangs in my studio as a reminder of my early aspirations. I remember going to the Chicago Art Institute frequently as a boy, especially enjoying the works of Picasso. I went off to art school at the Kansas City Art Institute which was also pivotal. There, they set me free to experiment with concept in a rich, dynamic environment. After leaving KCAI, I started out slowly, painting, learning and finally selling my work. I call these my basement years, since I moved back in with my parents, until I could afford to move out on my own. This took a number of years. At age 27, I went away to Europe which turned out to be one of the most influential periods in my life. At this time, I had the opportunity to view first-hand the artwork that I had always admired in books. The Flemish artists spoke to me, especially Vermeer – his Woman Pouring Milk was breath-taking. Seeing this work altered my path as a realist painter, and was a catalyst for me changing from the figure and landscape to still life. Van Eycks’ alter piece in Ghent, made a lasting impression, and I was greatly inspired by a small work by Gerard ter Borch titled Gallant Conversation. I was also able to see a Francis Bacon show at the Tate Gallery, and Las Meninas at the Prado, both of which I will never forget. It was during this time that I developed a more personal narrative style which found a voice in Still Life painting. I am still growing and developing this voice, and am never at a loss for what to paint next since the possibilities within the genre are endless.
There are many artists and genres that interest me and have influenced my progression as an artist, and I appreciate both historical and contemporary works. Van Eyke, Vermeer and Vander Wyden share the list with Lucien Freud, Joseph Cornell, Paul Klee and Frank Auerbach. I am particularly attached to the London school along with a group of contemporary Spanish realists. Of these, Lopez Garcia and Isabella Quintanilla impress me the most.
The contemporary art world is not a place where a person can sit back and get too comfortable and I try not to confuse myself with all the “isms” that pop up in art. I am constantly looking to expand my knowledge, vision and expertise, and I feel most comfortable when I can experiment with imagery that is outside the box. I find I learn more with my larger work, so I try to take on one or two large projects a year that I can really sink my teeth into.
I certainly have been influenced by teachers, friends and art history. It’s easy to get too heavy and serious about art, so I haven’t followed any one school of thought. My paintings are very personal, with one work often evolving from another in a series of cycles. Much of my imagery is inspired by my surroundings, my background and family. My kids have been a huge and ongoing inspiration for me, not just by way of the objects that have been incorporated into my paintings, but in the mind set they have shared with me. It is their honest interpretation and unaffected exploration of the natural world that has really opened my eyes and that I have tried to apply in my own work.