Artist Biography - Rehs Galleries, Inc.

Bart Walter
(b. 1958)

Maryland sculptor, Bart Walter began working in clay in the late 1980’s. Now at the beginning of the 21st century, his work can be found in both notable public and private collections worldwide from Ugandan Wildlife Authority Headquarters in Kampala to the R. W. Norton Museum in Shreveport, Louisiana. His recent accomplishments include the recent acquisition of his sculpture group entitled The Troupe by The Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a solo exhibition held at The National Museum of Wildlife Art in 2008; and induction as a Fellow into the prestigious Explorer’s Club in New York for his outstanding work documenting wildlife from all over the world through his sculptures and drawings. Mr. Walter has designed the Chairman’s Award for The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and a Conservation Award for Dr. Jane Goodall and is a Fellow and two time a Silver Medalist with the National Sculpture Society. Bart Walter is primarily known for his unique and dynamic approach to surface. Bart Walter travels extensively to pursue honest interpretations of his subjects.

Sculpting primarily from life and using charcoal sketches as reference, allows this artist to infuse vitality and spontaneity into his work. Bart Walter’s extensive body of work is derived from a personal commitment to the integrity of each subject, human or animal. Bart Walter’s hands-on approach to the casting process, results in sculptures that are faithful to the original work in clay or wax with no element lost.

With this holistic view of how his work is inspired, created and cast, Bart Walter has won the respect and admiration of fine art curators, collectors and the general public.

Education & Affiliations:

Fellow, Explorer’s Club, New York, New York, 2008
Fellow, National Sculpture Society, New York, New York, 2006
Elected Member of National Sculpture Society, New York, New York,1993
Hiram College, Ohio - Bachelor of Arts, 1980

Artist’s Statement:

"My art evolves from a passion for all living things. I strive to capture the essence of a living being; to explore some kernel of truth that may have gone unnoticed and to depict an otherwise elusive moment in time. In my mind's eye, I strip away all that is unnecessary, even as I build the sculpture with layer upon layer of clay. My goal is a distillation of the subject until only true essentials are left. If in so doing I can reveal some intangible spirit, make evident the soul of my subject, and communicate this in my art; then I have accomplished something real."

Museum Acquisitions and Public Collections:

Brookgreen Gardens, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
C. Burr Artz Library, Frederick, Maryland
Canton Museum of Art, Canton, Ohio *
Eastern Branch Library, Shrewsbury, New Jersey
Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History, Jackson, Michigan
Friends School of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland
The Great Ape Trust, Des Moines, Iowa*
The Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Hiram Blauvelt Museum, Oradell, New Jersey*
Jane Goodall Institute, Arlington, Virginia *
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland*
Monmouth County Public Library, Manalapan, New Jersey*
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, Wyoming *
North Carolina Zoological Park, Asheboro, North Carolina*
Northwest Middle School, Taneytown, Maryland
Reading Public Museum, Reading, Pennsylvania
Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, California
R. W. Norton Gallery, Shreveport, Louisiana
Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland*
The Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington, D. C.
Waterfowl Festival Headquarters, Easton, Maryland
The Wildlife Experience, Parker, Colorado
The Worrell Collection, Charlottesville, Virginia*
Uganda Wildlife Authority, Kampala, Uganda

*Multiple Acquisitions

Solo Exhibitions:

Eastern Branch Library, Shrewsbury, New Jersey, 2009
Works on Paper

Astoria Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 2009
Bart Walter Focus Show

National Museum Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 2008
An Eye Toward Africa: The Art of Bart Walter

National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, 2007
Works in Bronze by Bart Walter

St. Andrews School, Middleton, Delaware, 2006
Bart Walter: Of Water, Earth and Sky

Corporate Council on Africa, Baltimore, Maryland, 2005
Bart Walter: Visions of Africa

The Ward Center for the Arts, Baltimore, Maryland, 2004
Visions of Africa: Works in Bronze and Drawings

Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, Maryland, 2004
Deep Into Nature: Works by Bart Walter

Canton Museum of Art, Canton, Ohio, 2002
Soul of Africa

American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, 2000
The San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, California
Peggy Notebaert Museum, Chicago, Illinois
The Kirkland Library, Kirkland, Washington
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Touring Exhibition – The Gathering

Washington County Museum of Fine Art, Hagerstown, Maryland, 1997
Bronze Sculpture by Bart Walter

A. G. Poulain Museum, Vernon, France, 1996

Saginaw Art Museum, Saginaw, Michigan, 1996

Reading Public Museum, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1993

Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, DC, 1993
Natural Forms: Bart Walter

Group Exhibitions:

Sagamore Farms, Baltimore, Maryland, 2009
Art for Land’s Sake

Sisko Gallery, Seattle, Washington, 2009
Creatures

National Museum of Wildlife Art, 2009
Western Visions

National Sculpture Society, New York, New York , 2009
Annual Members Exhibition 2009

Sisko Gallery, Seattle, Washington, 2008
Creatures

National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, 2008
Selected Works

National Museum of Wildlife Art, 2008
Western Visions

Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Florida, 2007
National Sculpture Society 2007 Awards Exhibition

Canton Museum of Art, Canton, Ohio, 2006
Bergstrom Mahler Museum, Neenah, Wisconsin
R. W. Norton Gallery, Shreveport, Louisiana
The Art of the Rainforest - Exhibition Tour

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 2006
Birds in Art 2006

The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont, 2006
Art of the Animal Kingdom XI

National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 2005
Wildlife Art for the New Century II

National Sculpture Society, New York, New York , 2004
Annual Juried Members Exhibition 2004

National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, 2004
Selected Works

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 2004
Birds in Art 2004

Gerald Peters Gallery, Sante Fe, New Mexico, 2004
New Works

National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, 2004
Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
National Sculpture Society, New York, New York, 2003
Wings of Peace, Wings of Hope

Carroll County Arts Council, Westminster, Maryland, 2003
Inaugural Exhibition of Maryland Artists

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 2003
Animal Instincts

Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, Maryland, 2003
Beyond the Image

Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, California, 2003
Discovery Place, Charlotte, North Carolina
Sculpture Tour – The Gathering
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 2002
Birds in Art 2002

Brookgreen Gardens, Pawleys Island, South Carolina, 2001
The Magnificent Menagerie

The Blauvelt Museum of Art, Oradell, New Jersey, 2001
Kalahari to Kilimanjaro

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 2001
Birds in Art 2001

The Fleischer Museum, Scottsdale, Arizona, 1999
Masterworks of American Sculpture: Selections from National Sculpture Society

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 1999
Birds in Art 1999

The Ward Museum, Salisbury, Maryland, 1999
Wildlife Images in Sculpture

The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont, 1999
Art of the Animal Kingdom V

The Academy Museum, Easton, Maryland, 1999
Exploration in Form

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 1998
Birds in Art 1998

The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont, 1998
Art of the Animal Kingdom IV

National Sculpture Society, New York, New York, 1997
Annual Juried Exhibition 1997

The Ward Museum, Salisbury, Maryland, 1996
Sporting Dogs

National Museum of Wildlife Art, 1996
Visions from the Veld
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 1996
Wildlife Art: The Artist’s View

Foothills Art Center, Golden, Colorado, 1994
National Sculpture Exhibition

National Sculpture Society, Serravezza, Italy, 1994
100 Years of American Sculpture

Chesterwood Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1994
Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood

Group Exhibitions Continued:

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 1993
Wildlife Art: The Artist’s View

The Ward Museum, Salisbury, Maryland, 1993
The Bronze Age

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, 1992
Birds in Art 1992

Honors and Awards:

Designer of Chairman’s Award for National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 2007

Silver Medal, 74th Annual Exhibition National Sculpture Society, 2007

Distinguished Alumni Award, Friends School of Baltimore, 2006

Silver Medal, 71st Annual Exhibition National Sculpture Society, 2004

Designer of The African Wildlife Foundation Award for Conservation, 2003

Selected by Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to Commemorate the
Gorillas on the Edge National Geographic Premiere at the United Nations, 2000

John Spring Art Founder Award, The National Sculpture Society,1998

Allied Artists of America, Members and Associates Award, 1993

Designer of the Jane Goodall Award for International Conservation, 1992

Publications and Media:

Bronze Chimps to Greet Zoo Guests August 31, 2009
Chattanooga Times Writer: Ann Braly
Online news feed with video:
www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/aug/31/video-bronze-chimps-greet-zoo-guests/

Astoria Showcases Walter’s Work June 27, 2009
Jackson Hole Daily Writer: Katy Niner

Walter Sculpts Wildlife from New Continent June 24, 2009
Jackson Hole News & Guide Writer: Katy Niner
Toni On! New York. Program #4435 Airdate: June 13, 2009
Channel 11, New York

Animal Instinct
Art & Antiques Collector’s Sourcebook Winter 2008
© 2008 Curtco Publications – Writer: Nord Wennerstrom

Inspired by Wilderness: World-renowned Sculptor’s Carroll Studio
Carroll County Times November 24, 2008 Writer: Bryan Schutt

Call of the Wild
Illuminating - An Eye Toward Africa: The Art of Bart Walter
© 2008 National Museum of Wildlife Art – Writer: Dr. Jane Goodall

Wildlife Art Museum Seeks More Humans
Los Angeles Times June 1, 2008 Writer: Michael J. Ybarra

Jackson Hole Hits Its Artistic Stride
Fine Art Connoisseur, May/June 2008 – Pam Koob
© 2008 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine

Going to Wild Extremes; Artist Profile: Bart Walter
Homestead Magazine -2008 Art/Architecture & Design
© 2008 Circumerro Publishing

Picture Perfect Addition: Home Is Where The Art Is
Chesapeake Home - November 2007
©2007 Chesapeake Home Writer: Kelli Rosen

Bart Walter’s Wapiti Trail
Call of the Wild, Vol. 3, Number 2, Fall 2007
©2007 National Museum of Wildlife Art Writer: Adam Duncan Harris

Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine July/August 2007
A New Heyday for Figurative Sculpture
© Fine Art Connoisseur 2007 – Writer: Mathias Anderson

Bart Walter Sculptor Profile
National Sculpture Society News Bulletin May/June 2007 Vol. 73, #3
© 2007 National Sculpture Society; Interview by Patty Delahanty

The Art of Birding
Birding Volume 30, #1, January/ February 2007
© 2007 American Birding Association; Writer: Marcia M. Theel

Animal Magnetism
Art & Antiques Magazine, October 2006
© Art and Antiques 2006; Writer: Sallie Brady

Beasts in Bronze
Carroll Magazine, October 2005
©Carroll Magazine 2005; Writer: Mary Spiro

AWF: AWF Unveils Life-size Mountain Gorilla Sculpture in Uganda
Online News Africa Wildlife Foundation
© 2005 African Wildlife Foundation

In the Wild
Southwest Art Magazine, June 2005
© 2005 Southwest Art Magazine; Writer: Dr. Adam Duncan Harris

Bart Walter’s Dual Passions
Africa Geographic Magazine, Spring 2005
© 2005 Africa Geographic Magazine; Writer: Craig Sholley

Culture at the Zoo
Zoogram: The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Fall/Winter 2004
© 2004 Maryland Zoo in Baltimore; Writer: Ben Gross

Wildlife Art Magazine July/August 2004
© Wildlife Art 2004; Writer: Nancy Robson

Understanding Wildlife
Southwest Art Magazine September 1999
© Southwest Art 2004; Writer: Marie Bongiovani

Curator’s Critique: Hiram Blauvelt Museum
Wildlife Art Magazine May/June 2003
© Wildlife Art 2003 – Writer: Rosa Lara

A Journey Shared: The Art of Bart Walter
Executive Producer: Hilary Hatfield, Associate Producer: Lynn Walter, Editor: Beck, Shoup & Assoc.
© Bart Walter 2002 27 minute documentary DVD / NR

Bart Walter: Soul of Africa - Pictorial Critical Essay
© Canton Museum of Art 2002; Writer: Dr. M. J. Albacete

Bart Walter: Elusive Moments
© Bart Walter 1998 - Art Director: Hilary Hatfield
Publication Design: Lucky Productions, Westminster, MD

The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Live Section July 17, 1997
© The Baltimore Sun 1997; Critique by: John Dorsey

The Washington Post: December 18. 1993
© The Washington Post 1993; Critique by: Lee Fleming

The Baltimore Sun: August 23, 1993
© The Baltimore Sun 1993; Critique by: John Dorsey

The Reading Eagle: May 8, 1993
©The Reading Eagle 1993 ; Critique by: Marilyn J. Fox

The Columbus Dispatch: May 10, 1992
© The Columbus Dispatch 1992; Critique by: Jacqueline Hall

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