SCOTT UPTON
“"Light matters. The Atlanta artist excels at suggesting it on canvases that can glow. At times, he uses reflective material to enhance the effect. And while he does abstract paintings, some of these works more than suggest realism, with a horizon line here, a sky there, even the hint of buildings. There’s also the influence of the great 19th–century English landscape painter J.M.W. Turner, who took a very solid world and, with color and form, de-materialized it."
Richard Maschal, Charlotte Observer
"This Atlanta and North Carolina painter’s multilayered technique mixes acrylic paint with concealed reflective textures including silver and gold leaf, all sealed under a varnish of his own devising. Upton’s determined innovation in depth and surface distinguishes him from his sources, which include the late work of Mark Rothko but combine many other atmospheric abstractionists."
Jerry Cullum, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Movies
The Reluctant Fundamentalist Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schreiber, Kate Hudson, Riz Ahmed
Trouble With The Curve Clint Eastwood, Justin Timberlake, Amy Adams, John Goodman
Gospel Hill Danny Glover, Angela Bassett, Julia Stiles, Giancarlo Stiles
Night School Kevin Hart, Keith David, Tiffany Haddish
Television
Devious Maids
Satisfaction, Season 2
Steven Spielberg's Apple Series, Amazing Stories 2019 TV Series
Abstract Artist
Gallery Representation
Blue Spiral 1
800-291-2513
www.bluespiral1.com
Asheville NC 1990-2021
Hidell Brooks Gallery
704-334-7302
www.hidellbrooks.com
Charlotte, NC 2012-2021
Studio E Gallery
561-799-3333
www.studioegallery.com
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 2010-2021
Thomas Deans Fine Art
404-352-3778
www.thomasdeansfineart.com
Atlanta, GA 2009-2021
I've always maintained that my work is about color and light and their effect on our emotions. My inspiration comes from nature, whose sublime forms and colors and chaotic power shape the ever-changing landscape. For me, light is the unifying force, transforming everything it touches by banishing darkness and encouraging renewal. In my work I've always sought to suggest, in addition to the beauty, the feelings of hope and peace that light imparts.
My painting process involves as much intuition as skill, and a surprising amount of sheer physical labor. To convey the emotional impact of change, time, weather, and light, I employ a wide range of techniques. I lay down rich fields of color, enhanced by many layers of transparent glazes. To intensify the effects of depth and mystery, I may use a foundation of metal leaf or applied textures. After building up a surface I then scar it or even scrape it away only to cover it over again with a new layer. I like “closing away” lower layers, except for scattered spots of color--a reminder that more is happening in a painting than what is perceived on the surface. I hope this process creates for the viewer a calm moment in which to reflect on what, in a larger sense, has been hidden from view.
--Scott Upton
Gallery & Exhibitions History
Blue Spiral 1, Asheville NC 1990-2021
Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte, NC 2013-2021
Thomas Deans Fine Art, Atlanta GA 2009-2021
Studio E Gallery, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 2010-2021
New Morning Gallery, Biltmore NC 2008-2018
Thomas Deans Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA 2018
J A Willy Gallery, Naples, FL 2016
Flanders Art Gallery, Raleigh NC 2007-2015
The Gallery at Laws, Knoxville TN 2010-2015
The Rymer Gallery, Nashville, TN 2013-2015
Haute Design, Charleston, SC 2011-2015
Broadhurst Gallery, Pinehurst, NC 2008-2015
Jeffery Bruce Baker Designs, Atlanta, GA 2014
G17, Gallery Seventeen, Greenville, SC 2013
Harrington Brown Gallery, Memphis, TN 2012, 2013
Tripolo Gallery, Covington, LA 2010-2013
John Collette Fine Art, Cashiers, NC 2012
Allison Sprock Fine Art, Charlotte, NC 2011
Allison Sprock Fine Art, Charleston, SC 2011
Smith Killan Fine Art, Charleston, SC 2011
Center of the Earth Gallery, Charlotte NC 2003-2010
Summit One Gallery, Highlands NC 2004-2010
Lyons View Gallery, Knoxville TN 2007-2009
The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, NC 2008-2009
Gallery NU, Covington, LA 2008-2009
Gallery NU, Sandestin, FL 2008-2009
The Lowe Gallery, Atlanta GA 2006-2008
The Lowe Gallery, Santa Monica CA 2007-2008
Carol Saunders Gallery, Columbia SC 1998-2008
Bickett Gallery at Hudson, Raleigh NC 2007
The Upstairs Art Space, Tryon NC 2007
Gallery Sklo, Atlanta GA 2004-2006
Art to Market, Atlanta GA 2003-2004
Space, Atlanta GA 2002-2004
Momus, Atlanta GA 2003
Beverly Libby Gallery, Atlanta GA 1998-2002
The Wells Gallery, Charleston SC 1994-2001
Windsor Gallery, FL 1994-1996
Hanson Art Source, TN 1992-1995
Southern Exposure, Atlanta GA 1990
New Morning Gallery, NC 1984-1996
Somerhill Gallery, Chapel Hill NC 1989
Somerhill Gallery, Durham NC 1984-1989
Designer House, Denver CO 1984
Henley Southern Spectrum, NC 1981-1988
Henley Travel Show, NC 1987
First Bank of Asheville, NC 1983
The Studio Café, NC 1983
Shelby Art League, NC 1982-1983
Asheville Art Museum, NC 1983
State Senator James McClure Clark, Asheville, NC 1982
Art on the Plaza, NC 1982
Artist Endeavors, NC 1982
The Portfolio, City of Biltmore, NC 1982
University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC 1983
Art Institute of Atlanta, GA 1977
Collections
JP Morgan, Charlotte, NC
Cancer and Blood Diseases Insitute, Cincinnati, OH
North Highlands Worldwide Consulting, Atlanta, GA
Capital City Club, Atlanta, GA
St. Andrews Country Club, Boca Raton, FL
WRAL, Capital Broadcasting Company Inc, Raleigh, NC
Biogen Idec, Reseach Triangle Park, NC
Ritz Carlton, Atlanta, GA
First Health, Pinehurst, NC
SAS, Cary, NC
Blackberry Farms, Walland, TN
The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, NC
Del Friscol's, Washington, DC
Del Friscol's, Boston, MA
Del Friscol's, Atlanta, GA
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino, Aruba
O’Hare Hilton, Chicago, IL
Amelia Island Plantation, FL
The Breakers, Palm Beach FL
Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC
Eastman, Kingsport, TN
Charlies Frazier, Author of Best-Selling Novels
Cold Mountain, Nightwoods, Asheville, NC
Lit Bow Wow, Singer, Atlanta GA
T-Pain, Singer-Song Writer- Producer, Atlanta, GA
Arthur Blank Foundation, Atlanta GA
Crescent Capital Investments,
Four Seasons Hotel, Atlanta GA
Armada Investment Group, Atlanta GA
Progress Energy, Corporate Collection, Durham NC
Source One Marketing, Atlanta GA
Northside Hospital, Atlanta GA
Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC
The Georgia Dome, Atlanta GA
Education
University of North Carolina at Asheville
1980-1984 Fine Arts
McDowell Technical College
1977-1979 Commercial Graphics
Art Institute of Atlanta
1976-1977 Visual Communications
Workshops
North Carolina Artist Tucker Cooke
North Carolina Artist Herb Jackson
New York Artist Dorothy Gillespie
New Horizons Computer Art
Encaustic, The Art School in Sandy Springs
Awards
Award of Excellence Paper Sources International
Award of Excellence Simpson Paper Company
Award of Excellence Zander Paper Company
Southeastern Abstract Artist Tour
Benefits
National MS Society 2010-2013
EnAble of Georgia, Inc. enable.org 2009-2013
Gwinnett Children's Shelter 2010, 2013
New Heights Therapy 2010
STAR - Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Ride
2008, 2010-2012
Art with Heart 2008-2009
Highland Cashiers Humane Society of NC
2004 -2007, 2010-2011
The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy CMLC 2007
McNair Foundation 2006-2007, 2010
American Cancer Society 2005-2008
Hunter Museum of American Art 2007
Birmingham Museum of Art 2006
Knoxville Museum of Art 2005-2008
Atlanta Opera 2003 - 2006
DIFFA, Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids
2003 - 2005
Project Open Hands 2000-2003
Alzheimer’s Association 1989-1993
The Charleston Low Country Aids Foundation 1994
Western North Carolina Aids Auction 1988-1994
Asheville Art Museum 1983-1988
