George Valentine Dureau (December 28, 1930 – April 7, 2014) was an American artist whose long career was most notable for charcoal sketches and black and white photography of poor white and black athletes, dwarfs, and amputees.[1]Robert Mapplethorpe is said to have been inspired by Dureau's amputee and dwarf photographs, which showed the figures as "exposed and vulnerable, playful and needy, complex and entirely human individuals."[2]
Dureau was born to Clara Rosella Legett Dureau and George Valentine Dureau in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was raised in nearby Bayou St. John.[3][4] He graduated with a fine arts degree from LSU in 1952, after which he began architectural studies at Tulane University. He briefly served in the U.S. Army. Before being able to survive as an artist, he worked for Kreeger's, a New Orleans department store, as a display designer/window dresser. For the vast majority of his life, he lived in the French Quarter, where he was well known for his eccentricity and hospitality. His friend and student, Robert Mapplethorpe restaged many of his earlier black and white photographs. Dureau died of Alzheimer's disease.[3]
Worksedit
Some of his pieces are held at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Several of his works are displayed publicly throughout New Orleans, most notably, the pediment sculpture for Harrah's New Orleans, and his cast-bronze sculptures stand sentinel at the entrance gates of New Orleans City Park. His depiction of a Mardi Gras parade dominates one wall in Gallier Hall. "Black 1973–1986," an exhibition of black and white photographs concentrating on young black men at the Higher Pictures gallery in New York City, garnered rave reviews.[5]
Selected publicationsedit
Lucie-Smith, Edward (1985). George Dureau New Orleans: 50 Photographs. London: GMP Publishers Ltd. ISBN0-907040-47-0.
Gefter, Philip (2016). George Dureau, The Photographs. New York: Aperture. ISBN978-1-59711-284-0.
Referencesedit
^. glbtq. December 28, 1930. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
^Harrity, Christopher (December 28, 1930). "Artist Spotlight George Dureau". Advocate.com. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
^ abMacCash, Doug (April 7, 2014). "George Dureau, New Orleans master painter and photographer, has died". The Times-Picayune. NOLA.com. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
^Gruber, Richard J. "George Dureau," 64 Parishes.com
george, dureau, george, valentine, dureau, december, 1930, april, 2014, american, artist, whose, long, career, most, notable, charcoal, sketches, black, white, photography, poor, white, black, athletes, dwarfs, amputees, robert, mapplethorpe, said, have, been,. George Valentine Dureau December 28 1930 April 7 2014 was an American artist whose long career was most notable for charcoal sketches and black and white photography of poor white and black athletes dwarfs and amputees 1 Robert Mapplethorpe is said to have been inspired by Dureau s amputee and dwarf photographs which showed the figures as exposed and vulnerable playful and needy complex and entirely human individuals 2 George DureauBorn 1930 12 28 December 28 1930New Orleans Louisiana United StatesDiedApril 7 2014 2014 04 07 aged 83 Kenner Louisiana U S NationalityAmericanEducationLSU and Tulane UniversityKnown forPainter photographer Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 Selected publications 4 ReferencesBiography editDureau was born to Clara Rosella Legett Dureau and George Valentine Dureau in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans Louisiana He was raised in nearby Bayou St John 3 4 He graduated with a fine arts degree from LSU in 1952 after which he began architectural studies at Tulane University He briefly served in the U S Army Before being able to survive as an artist he worked for Kreeger s a New Orleans department store as a display designer window dresser For the vast majority of his life he lived in the French Quarter where he was well known for his eccentricity and hospitality His friend and student Robert Mapplethorpe restaged many of his earlier black and white photographs Dureau died of Alzheimer s disease 3 Works editSome of his pieces are held at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art Several of his works are displayed publicly throughout New Orleans most notably the pediment sculpture for Harrah s New Orleans and his cast bronze sculptures stand sentinel at the entrance gates of New Orleans City Park His depiction of a Mardi Gras parade dominates one wall in Gallier Hall Black 1973 1986 an exhibition of black and white photographs concentrating on young black men at the Higher Pictures gallery in New York City garnered rave reviews 5 Selected publications editLucie Smith Edward 1985 George Dureau New Orleans 50 Photographs London GMP Publishers Ltd ISBN 0 907040 47 0 Gefter Philip 2016 George Dureau The Photographs New York Aperture ISBN 978 1 59711 284 0 References edit Dureau George 1930 2014 glbtq December 28 1930 Archived from the original on March 30 2014 Retrieved April 8 2014 Harrity Christopher December 28 1930 Artist Spotlight George Dureau Advocate com Retrieved April 8 2014 a b MacCash Doug April 7 2014 George Dureau New Orleans master painter and photographer has died The Times Picayune NOLA com Retrieved April 8 2014 Gruber Richard J George Dureau 64 Parishes com George Dureau Black 1973 1986 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Dureau amp oldid 1144595833, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
