Dorothy Gillespie:  Shaping Sculpture
Circulated by the Radford University Art Museum

North and South Galleries

Members Opening Reception
Saturday, March 29, 1 – 9 p.m.

Presenting Sponsors: 
Sustainer Patrons of Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art
Ed & Margaret DeBarba
Daniel & Barbara Engelhardt
Donald & Helen Gilbart
Ed & Barbara Hoffman
William & Hazel Hough
Roger & Lila Kumar
Roger & Patricia Miller
Robert Sprentall
Ferman Motor Car Company
Florida Infusion Services, Inc.

Octogenarian Dorothy Gillespie has been an important figure in contemporary American art since the 1950s – she is one of the leading women artists of her generation.  Her reputation as an artist spans many of the important movements of post-World War II art including Happenings, environments, installation art, theatre stage design, and art-in-public places.  Ms. Gillespie, who forged new directions in metal sculpture, is best known for her large enamel painted, cut aluminum striped installations.

Dorothy Gillespie was born in Roanoke, Virginia and attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore in 1941.  She moved to New York City and studied with the Art Students League and at Stanley William Hayter’s Atelier 17.  Ms. Gillespie has maintained a studio in New York City throughout most of her career.  She recently moved to Orlando where she continues to work today. 

Dorothy Gillespie has had numerous solo exhibitions, art-in-public places commissions, various teaching position, and has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards. She is also well known as a guest lecturer and has served on the boards of various arts organizations around the country. 

The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art is honored to host Dorothy Gillespie: Shaping Sculpture as a retrospective exhibition of the artist’s career.  The 29 works in the exhibit span from a 1944 oil on canvas painting and to a 1997 mixed media piece that stands over 10 feet high.  Circulated by Radford University Art Museum in Virginia, this exhibition was organized by Dr. Steve Arbury, curator of the Dorothy Gillespie collection and chairman of the Radford University Art Department.  Ms. Gillespie has had a long term relationship with Radford University where she has been a visiting artist and Distinguished Professor of Art (1997-1999).  She has gifted 70 of her personal works as well as an impressive personal collection of works by other important 20^th century artists to the University. 

Dorothy Gillespie:  Shaping Sculpture is the second exhibition organized by Radford University to be shown at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art.  You may remember the 2002 Ibrahm Lassaw: Deep Space and Beyond exhibition, curated by Arthur F. Jones, which was exhibited during the Museum’s inaugural year.