Bob Worthy
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Join:7 Sep 2010
Last:12 Feb 2019

About Me

"I didn’t decide to be an artist, Art chose me”

Bob Worthy’s paintings create a question and are often inconclusive. His blending of painting and collage is inspired by found papers, seascapes, and man-made and natural textures. Cold wax and oil paint are applied over layers of collage or an elastomeric compound resulting in a textured surface. Recent work was inspired by trips to Atlantic Beach, NC and Virginia Beach, VA and observing the effects of light on sand, water and sky at different times of the day.
His paintings don't offer easy answers, often creating an opportunity for the viewer to complete the image. It is the ambiguity of these artworks that lead to individual interpretations. With strong influences from both traditional landscape painters and the Abstract Expressionist era, his personal imagery often results in a balance between representation and abstraction. It is an uncomfortable space for some, that sense of not being quite sure of what you are seeing.
Professor Worthy holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He received his Masters of Inter-disciplinary Studies in Fine Art (MIS) from VCU in 1999 and subsequently taught there from 1999-2016. Worthy was recognized at the Fredericksburg, Virginia Regional Arts Awards in 2000, as an individual artist, for outstanding achievements and contributions to the cultural life of the greater Fredericksburg region. He also received a Certificate of Recognition from the Virginia Governor's Awards for the Arts during the same month. Worthy was juror for “Square City” at the PonShop Gallery and has been a guest curator for the Louisa Art Center. He currently serves as Assistant Curator for the Frederick Gallery at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts. His work can be found in private and public collections in North America and he is internationally collected in Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the UK.

Credits

NOTICE: Here is a link to my new YouTube video documenting a photo shoot with a nude male model:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-RpY2lEnq0

“Goddess Kate I” & “Goddess Kate II”, two collage/mixed media pieces were awarded an Honorable Mention and selected by the juror, Gretchen Schermerhorn , for inclusion in the December/January National exhibit "Word, Text and Image" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of January 2018; http://www.fccava.org

"Distant Waves" and "Winter Poem" (which was awarded an Honorable Mention), two oil and cold wax paintings, were selected by the juror, Diego Sanchez, for inclusion in the September National exhibit "Tranquility" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of November 2017; http://www.fccava.org

"Distant Horizon" and "Arctic Strata" (which was awarded an Honorable Mention), two oil and cold wax paintings, were selected by the juror, Vaughn Whitney Garland, for inclusion in the September National exhibit "A Different Perspective" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of September 2017; http://www.fccava.org

"Shore Line", an oil and cold wax painting, was selected by the juror, Gina Cavallo Collins, for inclusion in the August Regional exhibit at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of August 2017; http://www.fccava.org

"Marsh Reeds", an oil and cold wax painting, was selected by the juror, David R. White, for inclusion in the national exhibit, "Textures and Patterns" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of May 2017; http://www.fccava.org

"Orange Surf", an oil and cold wax painting, was awarded 1st place after being selected by the juror, Greig Leach, for inclusion in the April Regional exhibit at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of April 2017; http://www.fccava.org

Two of my entries were selected by the juror, Gina Cavallo Collins, interim gallery manager of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, for inclusion in the March/April juried "All Media" exhibit at the Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. http://www.crossroadsartcenter.com/index.html

All three of my entries were selected for exhibition in "C O N T E M P O" a modern take on contemporary art at Gallery Flux, 307B England St. Ashland, VA. April 1 - May 26, 2017 Opening Reception | April 6th 5:30-8pm Second Reception | May 4th 5:30-8pm. http://www.galleryflux.com

"Silver Lake", an oil and cold wax painting, was awarded 1st place after being selected by the juror, Don Crow, for inclusion in the national exhibit "Power of Small" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. Two additional paintings “Frozen Horizon I and II” were also included in the exhibit. The exhibit runs through the end of January 2017; http://www.fccava.org

Juror’s Comments:
First Prize: Silver Lake (Cold Wax) by Bob Worthy and Frozen Horizon I and II –
All three works are stark, almost menacing in a lack of warmth, images which could illustrate Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road”. Silver Lake may hide over the next hill in a frozen landscape; this is place where nature still has not been tamed, there no impending commercial development and while there is a horizon which promises something beyond it we are prisoner to the scene before us. The hints of the red ground, the slight grayed wash clouds misting over the lake, this white sky pocketed plaster with small holes and textured washes creating a physical poetry of emptiness and sadness.

All three of my entries were selected by the juror for inclusion in the September/November juried "All Media" exhibit at the Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. http://www.crossroadsartcenter.com/index.html

"Distant Surf", a mixed media collage, was selected by juror, Heide Trepanier, for inclusion in the national exhibit "A Touch of Blue" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of November 2016; http://www.fccava.org

All three of my entries were selected by the juror, Ashby Nickerson of Candela Books + Gallery for inclusion in the March /April juried "All Media" exhibit at the Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. Third Place was awarded to my entry: "Adorned with Paint #8" http://www.crossroadsartcenter.com/index.html

Juror Diego Sanchez selected my entry, "Adorned with Paint #6" for the December 2015 national exhibit "The Power of Small" at the Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. Additionally, my body painted male nude transfer was awarded second place. The exhibit runs through the end of January 2016; http://www.fccava.org

"A Day in Winter Park", a mixed media painting, was selected by the juror for inclusion in the November/December juried "All Media" exhibit at the Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. http://www.crossroadsartcenter.com/index.html

Juror Amie Oliver selected all three of my entries in the November national exhibit "Patterns and Repetition" at the Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. Juror Oliver gave an honorable mention award to "Sand Dune Fencing IV". The exhibit runs through the end of November 2015; http://www.fccava.org

Two pieces from my "Dragonfly Waltz" series, mixed media collages, were selected by juror: Mary Gallagher Stout, for inclusion in the "October Regional Art Exhibition" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. Juror Stout gave an honorable mention award to "Dragonfly Waltz #17". The exhibit runs through the end of October 2015; http://www.fccava.org

"Sand Dune Fencing #1", a mixed media collage, was selected by juror, Chris Gregson, for inclusion in the national exhibit "Lines and Edges" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of September 2015; http://www.fccava.org

Three pieces from my "Triathlon II" series, two Polaroid transfers and an oil painting are included in the September/October juried "All Media" exhibit at the Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. http://www.crossroadsartcenter.com/index.html

"Dragonfly Waltz #42", a mixed media collage, was awarded 3RD place after being selected by the juror, Kerry McAleer-Keeler, for inclusion in the May exhibit "Different Perspectives" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of May 2015; http://www.fccava.org

Juror's comments: A mixed media piece entitled, "Dragonfly Waltz #42" by Bob Worthy was selected for third place because of its simple elegance and compelling use of color and photo transfer. The artist's has a skillful control over the mixed media combined in the purposeful composition. The apt use of rectangular shapes reminds the viewer of piano keys while juxtaposed to the darting dragonfly images gives the piece balance and progression.

"Alternate Realities", a mixed media painting, was selected by the juror, Reni Gower , for inclusion in "A Touch of Red", the March exhibit in the Frederick Gallery at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through March 27, 2015; http://www.fccava.org

"A Day in Winter Park and Winter Park Memories", mixed media collages, were selected by juror, Ginna Cullen, for inclusion in the "February Regional Art Exhibition" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of February 2015; http://www.fccava.org

"Dragonfly Waltz #3" is to be included in the January juried "All Media" exhibit at the Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. Artist's reception is Friday January 16, 2015 from 6pm-9pm and open to the public. http://www.crossroadsartcenter.com/index.html

Juror Jessie Boyland selected “Diamonds in the Rough #4” to be included in the November "All Media" exhibit at the Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. Artist's reception is Friday November 21, 2014 from 6pm-9pm and open to the public. http://www.crossroadsartcenter.com/index.html

"Adorned With Paint #8", a mixed media gel transfer, was selected by the juror, Joey P. Mánlapaz , for inclusion in "The Human Factor", the September exhibit in the Frederick Gallery at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through September 26, 2014; http://www.fccava.org

Two Mixed Media Collages “Goddess Sophie” and "Sophie Sleeps" are included in the "Heliotrope Bouquet" exhibit at The Cade Fine Arts Center Gallery at Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD. The exhibit runs through July 1
5, 2014.

"Dragonfly Waltz #16", a mixed media collage, was awarded 2nd place after being selected by the juror, Don Crow, for inclusion in the "June Regional Art Exhibition" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of June 2014; http://www.fccava.org

Juror Betsy Kellum selected all three of my entries to be included in the May "All Media" exhibit at the Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. Artist's reception is Friday May, 16, 2014 from 6pm-9pm and open to the public. http://www.crossroadsartcenter.com/index.html

Juror, Jack Rasmussen selected my painting "Dragonfly Waltz #40" as one of the 30 pieces out of 200 entries to be included in "Mid-Atlantic Painting 2014" at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery at The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Exhibition dates: January 23-February 28, 2014. Opening reception January 23, 5-7pm.

"Dragonfly Waltz #18" was include in "Surface Impressions", a national juried exhibition at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of November 2009; http://www.fccava.org

"Diamonds in the Rough Numbers 1 and 3" were selected by the juror to be include in "Abstraction and Reality", a national juried exhibition at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of September 2013; http://www.fccava.org

Five oil paintings on canvas were included in “8 exposures” an invitational art exhibit at the Louisa Arts Center in Louisa, VA: http://louisaarts.org Exhibit runs from July 16 to September 20, 2013.

The juror for "Lines and Edges", a national juried exhibit at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, selected “Diamonds in the Rough #1” as part of the exhibit FCCA is an affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of May 2013; http://www.fccava.org

“40 Years of Excellence” An RPI Retrospective 1928-1968 included two mixed-media paintings by Bob Worthy. The exhibit was held from April 5th to June 5th 2013 at the Richmond Public Library in Richmond, Virginia and was sponsored by the Virginia Commonwealth University Alumni Association.

"Kendall", a mixed-media painting, was selected by the juror for inclusion in "Faces and Figures", a national juried exhibition at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of March 2013; http://www.fccava.org

Four nude pieces of my art, two females and two males, were selected by the juror for inclusion in "Books and Words", a regional juried exhibition at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of February 2013; http://www.fccava.org

"Chris", a mixed media collage, was awarded 3rd place after being selected by the juror for inclusion in the "October Regional Art Exhibition" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of October 2012; http://www.fccava.org

"Dragonfly Waltz" a one-person exhibit by Bob Worthy at The Purcell Gallery, The Louisa Arts Center, Louisa, VA 23093. The exhibit runs from July 27-September 21, 2012. Reception & Opening: July 27th 2012, 7-9 pm. http://louisaarts.org

Two oil paintings from my “Antibody Warrior” series are included in the "Heliotrope Bouquet" exhibit at The Cade Fine Arts Center Gallery at Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD. The exhibit runs through August 13, 2012.

I served as guest curator for the December '11/January '12 exhibit "Celebrating Young Artists -Invitational Art Show" at the Louisa Arts Center in Louisa, VA: http://louisaarts.org

I recently finished art work for an exhibit that opens next month. Exposure Unlimited, a group of artists that I helped co-found, is having its 25th Anniversary exhibit at two venues in April: FCCA: http://www.fccava.org and the P Rose Gallery: http://www.prosegallery.com Our exhibit is titled “Then and Now” with the “Now” work at FCCA and the “Then” work displayed with a timeline of our group’s history at P Rose. Please join us to celebrate this milestone exhibit on First Friday; April Fool’s Day!

"Felix" was awarded honorable mention after being selected by the juror, Kyra Swanson: Assistant Curator/Registrar UMW Galleries, for inclusion in the "February Regional Art Exhibition" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of February 2011; http://www.fccava.org
“Felix by Bob Worthy is remarkable in the use of materials, imagery, and design- playing texture and line off of one another.” Kyra Swanson

I served as the juror for the September 3-26, 2010 exhibit "Square City" at the PONSHOP Studio and Gallery in old town Fredericksburg, VA: http://www.ponshopstudio.com First Friday opening reception and juror's talk September 3, 2010.

A mixed media photo transfer of a male nude is included in "MASTERWORKS-150 YEARS OF SENSUAL PHOTOGRAPHY" at Photosensualis Gallery, 15 Rock City Road Woodstock, NY 12498. The exhibit runs from May 29 thru August 15, 2010; http://www.photosensualis.com/photosensualis.com/Home.html

Two mixed media photo collages of female nudes were selected by the juror for inclusion in the "April Regional Art Exhibition" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through April 30, 2010; http://www.fccava.org

"Lubec I" was awarded 3rd place after being selected by the juror for inclusion in the "February Regional Art Exhibition" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of February 2010; http://www.fccava.org

"Dragonfly Waltz 3" was selected by the judge for inclusion in "Layers", a national juried exhibition at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of September 2009; http://www.fccava.org

Two mixed media photo collages were selected by the juror for inclusion in the "February Regional Art Exhibition" at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through February 28, 2009; http://www.fccava.org

I was curator for the December '08/January '09 exhibit "Young at Art" at the Louisa Fine Arts Center in Louisa, VA: http://louisaarts.org

"Sleepy Hollow I" and "Sleepy Hollow II", two mixed media photo collages, were included in an invitiaional exhibit titled "Off-Campus" at the Louisa Fine Arts Center in Louisa, VA: http://louisaarts.org during the months of October and November 2008.

Tonight, 10.03.08, at the opening reception for the "Regional Art Exhibition" the juror awarded me an honorable mention for my entries: "Landscape I" and "Landscape II"

Two mixed media photo collages "Landscape I" and "Landscape II" were selected by the juror for inclusion in the "Regional Art Exhibition" a juried exhibition at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through November 1, 2008; http://www.fccava.org

I was curator for the December '07/January '08 exhibit "Inside-Outside" at the Louisa Fine Arts Center in Louisa, VA: http://louisaarts.org/ArtCenterEntry-inside-outside.pdf

"Warmth" was selected by the judge for inclusion in "The Human Form", a national juried exhibition at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs through the end of May 2007; http://www.fccava.org

"Looking Backward" a one-person exhibit by Bob Worthy at The Wounded Bookshop, Fredericksburg, VA The exhibit runs from September 1-30, 2006. First Friday Reception: September 1st, 6-10 pm. The public is welcome! http://www.woundedbookshop.com

From a review of the "looking Backward" exhibit:
"Worthy's depictions of us at our most vulnerable, nude, are timeless. They often incorporate nature themes a nude woman resting on a wild jumble of rocks, for instance. And while there's nothing pornographic about it, there is a simple beauty to both the subject and her setting that defines passion better than the most graphic modern concept of sensuality." Read the entire review here: http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/082006/08312006/218092/index_html?page=1

"Woodland Walk" was selected by the judge for an honorable mention award in Local Artists Exhibition, a juried show at The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts: An affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 813 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The exhibit runs from July 2-August 28, 2006; http://www.fccava.org

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