I first discovered the figurative work of Trevor Southey through his startlingly warm illustrations for Carol Lynn Pearson‘s poetry books many years ago. I was immediately taken in by their beauty and superb craftsmanship (something woefully lacking in so much art today). I’m usually a rabid fan of contemporary art, but his work certainly is not cutting edge in that sense. Somehow primeval, yet also timeless, the works celebrate the soul of humanity. They do not exist in time. His figures often seem idealistic and clearly not specific to a model, yet I forgive that because they celebrate beauty and humanity in such a universal way and with such skill.
Now living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area, Southey emigrated from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as a young man. He studied art in England and South Africa. A Mormon, he then came to the United States and obtained two degrees from Brigham Young University, where he taught for a number of years. The volume Trevor Southey: Reconciliation was published several years ago. It is both an insightful memoir and a stunning collection of his work with his commentary. I highly recommend it. His major recent work is a life-size bronze of St. Francis of Assisi at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas. Also, there is a major retrospective of his work at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts from October 21 through February 11. (Details here.)
This video, narrated by Southey, gives a glimpse of his work and his humanity.
Trevor Southey was a major influence on me and my art when I was at BYU. Even though he had long since left BYU, the faculty there had great respect for him and his work is all over the BYU Museum of Art. I think he paved the road in the art department that allowed me to come out of the closet as a student, so I am indebted to him in more ways than one.
Trevor Southey was a major influence on me and my art when I was at BYU. Even though he had long since left BYU, the faculty there had great respect for him and his work is all over the BYU Museum of Art. I think he paved the road in the art department that allowed me to come out of the closet as a student, so I am indebted to him in more ways than one.