Tad Lauritzen Wright
Artist Statement
Experiments with process and possibility form the basis of Tad Lauritzen Wright’s practice, as they have for the past several decades. He employs consistent motifs and symbols along with a sprawling variety of treatments in paintings, works on paper, and sculptural installations. Oscillating between improvisation and control, he mixes graphic geometry and patterning with heavy brushwork, hand-lettered text, personified objects, childlike imagery, shocking colors, and fantastic scale and perspectives. Enmeshing himself and the viewer in playful sensory games, joy and possibility arise from each composition. Wright’s grid foundations become spaces for collaboration among forms and operate as analytic puzzles. His one-line drawings are elaborate time-based games growing from simplicity to complexity, open to risk and the challenge of limits. His use of text and language as form allows for direct accessibility and a range of interpretations from the viewer — whether delight or disgust. Through the process of blurring and defying conventions of art and craft, roles of the artist and viewer, and traditional uses of media and form, Wright remixes a whole new visual language.
Tad Lauritzen Wright, a Texan, received an MFA from Memphis College of Art and a BFA from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Over the past twenty years, he has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the United States, including Coop Gallery, Nashville; Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville; Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha; Koelsch Gallery, Houston; Cheryl Hazen Gallery, New York; Cuevas Tilleard Gallery, New York; ACME Gallery, Los Angeles; Millsaps College, Jackson; Arkansas State University, Jonesboro; Pulse Art Fair, Miami; Next Art Fair, Chicago; Brooks Museum, Memphis; Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis; and the New Orleans Museum of Art. He has completed two (?) public installations through the Urban Art Commission in Memphis. His work is in a number of collections including the Tamarind Printmaking Institute, Albuquerque; Fidelity Investments, Boston; The Children’s Museum, Memphis; the City of Memphis; Hallmark Collection, Kansas City, MO; Memphis/Shelby County Library and Information Center-Collierville; Memphis Brooks Museum of Art; and the Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock. He is one half of the Mellow Mountain Coalition, making collaborative, impromptu, figurative abstractions with fellow DLG artist Hamlett Dobbins.
tad lauritzen wright
b. 1972 San Angelo, TX
education
2002 MFA, Memphis College of Art
1994 BFA, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln
solo exhibitions
2023 beauty is a byproduct, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville
2022 Poetics of Gesture, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
2020 Between a Thought and a Thing, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis 2019 Mellow Mountain Coalition, whitespec, Whitespace, Atlanta
In A Silent Way, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville
2017 The Politics of Power, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE
The Politics of Power, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
2016 Continual Myth, Bradbury Art Museum, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR
Wrong Way into Juarez, Koelsch Gallery, Houston 2015 Instructions Included, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville
Born To Hula, Glitch, Mellow Mountain Collaborations, Memphis 2014 the bacchus sessions, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
2013 From the Foothills of Ambiguity, Cheryl Hazen Gallery, New York 2012 Garden and Gun, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Smile Heavy Sessions, Pulse, David Lusk Gallery, New York 2010 Permagrin, Concept Gallery, Memphis
The Liberated Landscape, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis Conundrum, Material, Memphis
Playscape, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha, NE
2008 The Fun Show, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
The Plot Thickens, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS
The M.O. Tribute Show, P & H Café, Memphis Rebuttal, Blue Paupers Bazaar, Memphis
Blue Parkway Project, UrbanArt Commission, Memphis Single Line Drawings, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
2007 Float, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
Dumpster, Material Gallery, Memphis
Beer, BBQ and Muscle Cars, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
2006 Philosophy of Beauty, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis Sugar Coated, Julie Baker Fine Art, Nevada City, CA
2005 scopeHAMPTONS, David Lusk Gallery
Depending on Altered Legends, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha
2004 Incomplete Histories of My Memories David Lusk Gallery, Memphis 2003 Love on the Installment Plan, scopeMIAMI, David Lusk Gallery
2002 Brave Clean and Reverent, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Rickety Slick, Haydon Fine Art, Lincoln, NE
Evolution of Observation, Memphis College of Art
1999 Hobo Symbols, Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, Omaha
1998 Half Naked Half Dead, Aardvarx Gallery, Lincoln
1997 Drawings, Paintings, Prints and Sculpture, Aardvarx Gallery, Lincoln 1996 New Mexico Art League, Albuquerque
1993 NWU Kepler Gallery, Lincoln
1991 Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
group exhibitions
2022 Outline, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville
2021 Mellow Mountain Coalition, Gallery 130, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 2020 FABLE, Mellow Mountain Coalition, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville
2018 Daily Art, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis and Nashville
Art of the South, Presented by No. Magazine, Crosstown Arts, Memphis
2017 How Did You Get That Black Eye???, Mellow Mountain Coalition, Mason Scharfenstein Museum of Art,
Piedmont College, Demorest, GA
Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis 2016 Art 101, The 101, Memphis
Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis and Nashville A Show of Hand, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville
Paper Cuts, Cuevas Tilleard Gallery, New York, NY
Flight of the Peacock, COOP Gallery, Nashville
2015 Game Day, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis and Nashville Mash-Up, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis and Nashville Buggin and Shruggin, Brooks Museum, Memphis
The Dark Forest, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
Summer Reading, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
2014 Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis Scope Art Fair, David Lusk Gallery, Miami
2013 Art Miami, David Lusk Gallery, Miami
Present Tense: The Art of Memphis from 2001-Now, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis Bogey Nights, Memphis College of Art, Memphis
Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
PULP: Works on Paper-Works with Paper, Beta Pictoris Gallery, Birmingham AL
Co-Lab, Nu Gallery, Memphis
Furload, Glitch Gallery, Memphis
Pulse Art Fair, David Lusk Gallery, New York
New Southern Vernacular, Blend Studio, Nashville
New Southern Vernacular, Elder Gallery, Lincoln, NE
Words Matter, Marshall Arts, Memphis
2012 About Face, ACME Gallery, Los Angeles
The Art of Living, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE Context, Art Miami, David Lusk Gallery, Miami
Texas Contemporary Art Fair, David Lusk Gallery, Houston Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Pulse Art Fair, David Lusk Gallery, New York
Mark My Words, Cheryl Hazen Gallery, New York
Three, Cheryl Hazen Gallery, New York
Oscar, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
2011 Ripped From the Studio, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis Aqua, David Lusk Gallery, Miami
ArtHouston, David Lusk Gallery, Houston
Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Chain Letter, Brooklyn, NY
2010 We Like Each Other, Marxhausen Gallery, Concordia University, Seward NE
Playhouse on the Square, Memphis
Breast, Ouch My Eye, Seattle
The Memphis School, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
2009 Zoo of 8, Koelsch Gallery, Houston Art Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
Art LA, Los Angeles
Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
The Bakers Dozen, Silent Auction to Benefit UrbanArt, Material and Odessa Galleries, Memphis Memphis School, Fugitive Center, Nashville
2008 Next, Invitational Art Fair, Chicago Two Dollar Show, Los Angeles
Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Works on Paper, David Lusk Gallery, New York
Art LA, David Lusk Gallery, Los Angeles
The Human Condition, Molloy College, Rockville Centre, NY Millsaps College, Jackson, MS
Ex-Pats, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE
Small Wonders, GarsonBaker Fine Art, New York
This and That: Recent Art from Memphis, University of Louisiana, Monroe, (curated by Greely Myatt)
2007 Flow, Art Basel/Miami, David Lusk Gallery, Miami
Dwell on Design/San Francisco, David Lusk Gallery, San Francisco Los Angeles Art Show, David Lusk Gallery, Los Angeles
Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Plush You!, Schmancy, Seattle, WA
Class of ’07, Lantana Projects, Memphis
NIA Salon 3, Delta Axis @ Marshall Arts, Memphis
Art Chicago, David Lusk Gallery, Chicago
Bridge Art Fair, David Lusk Gallery, Chicago
Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock
2006 Flow, David Lusk Gallery, Miami
Class of ’06, Lantana/Medicine Factory, Memphis
Art 212, David Lusk Gallery, NYC
Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Works of Art on Paper, curated by Carter E. Foster, Long Beach Island Foundation for the Arts and Sciences, Loveladies, NJ
Confessions, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Monica
New Works On Paper, David Lusk Gallery, The Armory, New York
Text, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
Animals, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
2006 (Con) Text, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
Flying High, The Vault, Memphis
Art Chicago, David Lusk Gallery, Chicago
Art Chicago, Julie Baker Fine Art, Chicago
I love the Burbs, Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY Waterfall, Mahan Gallery, Columbus, OH
2005 Scope, David Lusk Gallery, New York
2×2, Koelsch Gallery, Houston, TX
Tide to the Vernacular, The Arts Center of St Petersburg, FL
New Orleans Triennial, New Orleans Museum of Art
The Water Fall Show, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
AAF, Julie Baker Gallery, New York
AAF, Barbara Archer Gallery, New York
ArtChicago, David Lusk Gallery, Chicago,
American Drawing Biennial 8, Muscarelle Museum of Art, William and Mary College, VA Works On Paper, David Lusk Gallery, New York
Bemis Foundation, Omaha,
Why don’t I just pull over, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
San Francisco International Art Exposition, David Lusk Gallery
WallFlower, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
The Price is Right 6, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Scope, New York, New York
2004 AAF, David Lusk Gallery, New York
Drawings: Koelsch Gallery, Houston
The Flower Show, Jonesboro, AR
Works on Paper, David Lusk Gallery, New York
San Francisco International Art Exposition, David Lusk Gallery
2003 New American Paintings: Southern Style, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR AAF, David Lusk Gallery, New York
Max: 03, The University of Memphis Art Museum
The Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
Artrageous, Memphis
Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock
Group Exhibition, Haydon Gallery, Lincoln
Works On Paper, David Lusk Gallery, New York
San Francisco International Art Exposition, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
2002 The Price is Right 5, Back With a Vengeance, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis Group Show, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
New American Paintings, Issue 40
Group Exhibition, Haydon Gallery, Lincoln
MFA Exhibition, Memphis College of Art, Memphis
2001 The Word in Art: The Use of Text in Contemporary Southern Art, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta
Juried Arts Exhibit, Arts in the Park, Memphis
The Price is Right 3, Don’t Stop `Til You Get Enough, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis Gaming Interactive, Memphis College of Art.
8x8x8, Delta Axis, Memphis
Prints/Paper, Haydon Gallery, Lincoln
Group Exhibition, Haydon Gallery, Lincoln
2000 Group Show, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis Small Treasures, Haydon Fine Art Lincoln Group Show, Memphis College of Art, Memphis
1999 David Alles, Printmaking Studio Exhibition, Lincoln Nebraska Wesleyan Alumni Exhibition, Lincoln Gallery 9 Juried Show, Lincoln
Fred Wells National Art Competition, Lincoln
1998 Club 1427, Lincoln
Gallery 9 Invitational, Lincoln
Aardvarx Gallery, Lincoln
1997 Valley Public Schools Artist Invitation, Valley, NE
Aardvarx Gallery, Lincoln
1996 Invitational Home Show, Albuquerque
New Mexico Art League Faculty Exhibition, Albuquerque 1995 Rokos Gallery Artists’ Invitational, Eger, Hungary
1994 University of North Texas Art Gallery, Denton
Elder Gallery Senior Art Exhibit, Lincoln
1993 Elder Gallery Juried Student Exhibition, Lincoln 1992 Light in the Attic, University Place Gallery, Lincoln 1990 Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
awards
2008 UrbanArt Commission, Blue Parkway Project, Memphis 2005 Guest Artist, Tamarind Printmaking Institute, New Mexico,
Faculty Fellowship Vermont Studio Center, from Memphis College of Art
2004 Drawing Center Slide File
2002 UrbanArt Commission, Memphis, Collierville Public Library Art Enhancement Project 2001 Best of Show, Arts in the Park, Memphis, juror Shamim Momin, The Whitney Museum 1999 Fred Wells National Competition
Best of Show, Gallery 9, Lincoln, Juried Competition
1993 Best of Show, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Juried Student Exhibition
bibliography
The Commercial Appeal, Fredric Koeppel, Lauritzen Wright displays his virtuosity, January 6, 2017 The Commercial Appeal, Fredric Koeppel, Pen & Brush, January 15, 2015
New American Paintings, issue 118, 2015
The Commercial Appeal, Fredric Koeppel, In Triplicate, October 21, 2014
The Commercial Appeal, Fredric Koeppel, Colorful coalition, January 23, 2014
Garden and Gun, 2012
The Memphis Flyer, Dwayne Butcher, Taking Aim Southern magazine a starting point for Lauritzen Wright, Oct 11-17, 2012, p3
The Commercial Appeal, Fredric Koeppel, Glitter, gore of South on exhibit, October 2012
Big Red and Shiny, Adrian Duran, The New Southern Vernacular: Memphis Art, The Yankee Version, November 12, 2012
New American Paintings, issue 94, 2011
The Memphis Flyer, Carol Knowles, Edgy, Grief, gender blurring, and metaphorical wallop. Oct 21, 2010
The Commercial Appeal, Fredric Koeppel, Art Lesson: Blue Parkway, March 13, 2008, pM1
NWA Traveler, Art Scene, In the Public Eye, ” Interactions/Interruptions” January 2008, p36
Chris Davis, stepping out, we recommend, Tad Wright exhibition Dumpster at Material, The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, Jan 25-21
Fredric Koeppel, 2006 best of the year, the year in fine art, Playbook, The Commercial Appeal,
December 29, 2006. p.26-7
The Omaha Reader, 2005
Fredric Koeppel,’ Rickety Slick,’Elegance, degeneration contrast in Delta Axis exhibition
The Commercial Appeal, May 2005
New American Paintings, July August, 2004
Wolgamott, L. Kent, Top Ten Art Events of 2002, Lincoln Journal Star, Dec. 2002
Hicks, Ed, Art Talk: review, Memphis Business Journal, July 2002
Wolgamott, L. Kent, Art with a Kick, Haydon Gallery, Lincoln Journal Star, July 2002
New American Paintings, June 2002
Bluff Papers, 2000
Daily Nebraskan 1999
