Owen Schuh: Branchings & Configurations
Southern Vermont Arts Center
Curator: Alison Crites, SVAC director: Anne Corso
Summer 2021 (June 12 - August 1)
"In each piece, I strive to manifest phenomena unique to the interaction between the physical medium and the logical structure. The work requires dedicated research to begin and execute, and invariably reveals both answers and further questions. In this way, the paintings and drawings form a body of visual research for abstract ideas often confined to the ethereal." - Owen Schuh
Owen Schuh's work illuminates the entwined relationships between embodied mind, mathematics, and the physical world. His paintings are structured with mathematical functions, data sets and iterations, which though relatively simple in nature, often yield outcomes of surprising organic complexity and depth.
For Branchings and Configurations, Owen Schuh curated a selection of his work from a number of series made within the last five years, that collectively demonstrate a broad range of the mathematical disciplines and aesthetics he works with.
The newest work included in this exhibition takes a slightly different approach to the relation between the mathematical abstracts and their respective representations.
"I create this work by hand using pencils, paint, a compass and, at most, the aid of a pocket calculator. The importance of this work, for me, lies beyond creating clever algorithms, or beautiful images. It is about understanding the nature and limits of our physical and mental worlds."
- Owen Schuh
"In each piece, I strive to manifest phenomena unique to the interaction between the physical medium and the logical structure. The work requires dedicated research to begin and execute, and invariably reveals both answers and further questions. In this way, the paintings and drawings form a body of visual research for abstract ideas often confined to the ethereal." - Owen Schuh
Owen Schuh earned his BA in fine art and philosophy in 2004 from Haverford College, Philadelphia, PA. In 2007, he received his Masters of Fine Art from The Tyler School of Art, also in Philadelphia, and completed his final year of study in Rome, Italy. He has exhibited in Germany, Italy, and throughout the United States, and has lectured on his work and algorithmic art practice in academic and exhibition settings. His work is included in the collection of the Kupferstichkabinett of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, as well as private collections. In 2015 Schuh participated in a major collaboration with the mathematician Satyan Devadoss, which significantly shifted the artist’s studio focus in recent years. His work has been recently featured in Leonardo, and the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts. He currently resides in Southeast Vermont. Owen Schuh is represented by Silas von Morisse Gallery in New York.
Installation view, Owen Schuh exhibition
In my work, I strive to manifest phenomena unique to the interaction between the physical medium and the logical structure. Through research and experimentation I choose mathematical functions that model the interactions and structure of living systems. Cellular Automata, circle packing, fractals and other topics in discrete mathematics form the basis of my work.
In the end the painting is really only the physical trace of this activity – a shell left behind on the beach.
- Owen Schuh
OWEN SCHUH
Iteration in Red, 2021
graphite, watercolor, gold and silver leaf on paper
16.93h x 21.06w in
43h x 53.50w cm
OS144
OWEN SCHUH
unfolding a cube, 2018 Oct
oil and graphite on panel
70.87h x 106.30w x 2d in
180h x 270w x 5.08d cm
OS125
OWEN SCHUH
Folding a line into six segments, #1, 2020
Graphite on paper
13.58h x 14.57w in
34.50h x 37w cm
OS145
OWEN SCHUH
Folding a Five Segmented Line, 2020
Graphite and watercolor on paper
14.17h x 14.17w in
36h x 36w cm
OS143
OWEN SCHUH
Compound Eye, 2019
Silverpoint, Graphite, gold leaf and oil on panel
21.26h x 21.26w x 2d in
54h x 54w x 5.08d cm
OS139
OWEN SCHUH
Watershed, 2019
oil, graphite, 23k gold leaf, tusche, ink on panel
42.52h x 50.39w x 2d in
108h x 128w x 5.08d cm
OS140
OWEN SCHUH
Branching Study (for Watershed), 2019
watercolor, graphite and colored pencil on paper
18h x 18w in
45.72h x 45.72w cm
OS141
OWEN SCHUH
cut 4 and 5 (unfolding a cube), 2018
Gesso, oil paint and graphite on linen mounted on wood panel made of birch plywood with spruce
23.62h x 23.62w x 1.75d in
60h x 60w x 4.45d cm
OS121
OWEN SCHUH
Diatom Study (Emergent Fissures), 2018 March
Silverpoint and Acrylic on Paper
14.17h x 14.17w in
36h x 36w cm
OS118
OWEN SCHUH
Diatom Study Blue, 2018 April
graphite, colored pencil, silverpoint on paper
14.17h x 14.17w in
36h x 36w cm
OS124
OWEN SCHUH
Study for unfolding a cube: 3 and 4 cuts, 2018
watercolor and graphite on paper
14.17h x 14.17w in
36h x 36w cm
OS123
OWEN SCHUH
3-Cube 6-Cuts, 2017
Oil, Graphite, Silverpoint, Gold, Copper and Silver Leaf, on Linen on Panel
42.52h x 42.52w in
108h x 108w cm
OS102
OWEN SCHUH
Oxidation (Cellular Automata), 2010
Oil on glass petri dish
6h x 6w x 1.25d in
15.24h x 15.24w x 3.18d cm
OS041
OWEN SCHUH
Tubipora Musica (Cellular Automata), 2010
Oil on glass petri dish
6h x 6w x 1.25d in
15.24h x 15.24w x 3.18d cm
OS042
OWEN SCHUH
Phase Change (Cellular Automata), 2010
Oil on glass petri dish
6h x 6w x 1.25d in
15.24h x 15.24w x 3.18d cm
OS043
OWEN SCHUH
3-Cube 6-Cuts, 2017
Oil, Graphite, Silverpoint, Gold, Copper and Silver Leaf, on Linen on Panel
42.52h x 42.52w in
108h x 108w cm
OS102
OWEN SCHUH
Diatom Study (Emergent Fissures), 2018 March
Silverpoint and Acrylic on Paper
14.17h x 14.17w in
36h x 36w cm
OS118
OWEN SCHUH
Study for unfolding a cube: 3 and 4 cuts, 2018
watercolor and graphite on paper
14.17h x 14.17w in
36h x 36w cm
OS123
OWEN SCHUH
Diatom Study Blue, 2018 April
graphite, colored pencil, silverpoint on paper
14.17h x 14.17w in
36h x 36w cm
OS124
OWEN SCHUH
Folding a Five Segmented Line, 2020
Graphite and watercolor on paper
14.17h x 14.17w in
36h x 36w cm
OS143
OWEN SCHUH
Iteration in Red, 2021
graphite, watercolor, gold and silver leaf on paper
16.93h x 21.06w in
43h x 53.50w cm
OS144
OWEN SCHUH
Folding a line into six segments, #1, 2020
Graphite on paper
13.58h x 14.57w in
34.50h x 37w cm
OS145
OWEN SCHUH
Watershed, 2019
oil, graphite, 23k gold leaf, tusche, ink on panel
42.52h x 50.39w x 2d in
108h x 128w x 5.08d cm
OS140
OWEN SCHUH
Compound Eye, 2019
Silverpoint, Graphite, gold leaf and oil on panel
21.26h x 21.26w x 2d in
54h x 54w x 5.08d cm
OS139
OWEN SCHUH
Branching Study (for Watershed), 2019
watercolor, graphite and colored pencil on paper
18h x 18w in
45.72h x 45.72w cm
OS141
OWEN SCHUH
unfolding a cube, 2018 Oct
oil and graphite on panel
70.87h x 106.30w x 2d in
180h x 270w x 5.08d cm
OS125
OWEN SCHUH
cut 4 and 5 (unfolding a cube), 2018
Gesso, oil paint and graphite on linen mounted on wood panel made of birch plywood with spruce
23.62h x 23.62w x 1.75d in
60h x 60w x 4.45d cm
OS121
OWEN SCHUH
Phase Change (Cellular Automata), 2010
Oil on glass petri dish
6h x 6w x 1.25d in
15.24h x 15.24w x 3.18d cm
OS043
OWEN SCHUH
Oxidation (Cellular Automata), 2010
Oil on glass petri dish
6h x 6w x 1.25d in
15.24h x 15.24w x 3.18d cm
OS041
OWEN SCHUH
Tubipora Musica (Cellular Automata), 2010
Oil on glass petri dish
6h x 6w x 1.25d in
15.24h x 15.24w x 3.18d cm
OS042