Bruce Adams


Divine Beauty:
I frequently employ pop cultural sources as a means of relating painting to various forms of mass media. I have also, over the years, referenced religious subjects from the perspective of a reformed Catholic. These two impulses merge in this series. To learn more about the series click here.
For a brief catalogue statement about this work written by Hallwalls' curator John Massier click here.



Exhibition layout


Divine Beauty Installation Virtual Tour
From Beyond/In WNY


Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John
2008, 16.5" x 50" (Details to right)


Mathew
2008, 16.5" x 11"
Oil and spray paint on wood, with epoxy, plastic toy, and painted wood frame


Mark
2008, 16.5" x 11"
Oil and spray paint on wood, with epoxy, plastic toy, and painted wood frame


Luke
2008, 16.5" x 11"
Oil and spray paint on wood, with epoxy, plastic toy, and painted wood frame


And John
2008, 16.5" x 12"
Oil and spray paint on wood, with epoxy, plastic toy, and painted wood frame


Skeptical Tom
2009, 68" x 62"
Oil on canvas


Saul
2009, 46" x 35.5"
Oil on canvas


The Summative Assessment
2010, 116'' x 126"
Oil on board with gold-painted wood frames

Click here for details

 The Deposition
2005, 54" x 56.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame
Our Universal Sister
2010, 15.5” x 13”
Oil on board with painted found frame

G abe
2009, 31" x 22"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame
Saul II
2009, 31" x 22"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame


 
Bernard
2006 (revised 2009) 43" x 23.5"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame 


Rafael
2010, 14.5” x 13”
Oil on board with found frame 		Demetrious
2010 16” x 17.5”
Oil on board with found plastic frame.


Weeping Icon
2010, 9” x 7”
Oil on board with found frame


Untitled #10
2006, 15" x 15"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame
Johnny B
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas
Remi and the Holy Ampulla
2010, 26.5” x 22.5”
Oil on wood with found frame
Angelic Face
2011, 24" x 20"
Oil on board with found frame


 



Icon # 5
2011, 24" x 20"
Oil on board with found frame

   


 

 

    

More Divine Beauty:

 


Guardian Angel
2010, 17” x 15”Oil on wood with found frame


Incoming Cherubim 2010, 14.5” x 7.5”
Oil on found plaque


Danny
2010, 22.5 x 26.5
Oil on board with found frame

 


Angel
2010, 23” x 19”
Oil on wood with found frame

 


Ampulla Veneration
2010, 32” x 28”
Oil on canvas with found frame

 


Sampson and Dahlia
2010, 39.5” x 33”
Oil on wood with found frame


Teresa
2010, 15.5” x 13.5”
Oil on board with found frame

 


The Annunciation
2006, 35" x 52"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame


Holy Mary, Holy Shit!
2006, 42.5" x 43.5"
Oil on luan
with wood frame


John
2006, 45" x 25"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame

 


Simon Being Zealous
2005, 64" x 27"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Vitus (Valentine)
2009, 54" x 30"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Eve
2009. 66.5" x 24.5"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame


Escape
2006 52.5" x 26"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame


CK
2006 52.5" x 26"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame


Icon with Holy Ghost
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas


Greg (great)
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas


Barbara
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas

 


Cathy
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas

 


Jerome
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas

 


John Chrysostom
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas


Andy
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas


Barb
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas


Ursula
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas


George
2009, 11.5" x 11.5"
Oil on canvas

 

 

 

 


Icon #1
2006, 25" x 18"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame

 


Icon #2
2006, 25" x 16.5"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame


Icon #3
2006, 25" x 18.5"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame


Icon #4
2006, 25" x 16.5"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame


Untitled #1
2005, 16" x 16"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #2
2005, 15" x 15"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #3
2005, 15.5" x 15.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #4
2005,Reworked 2009
15.5" x 15.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #5
2006, 17" x 17"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #6
2006, 15" x 15"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame


Untitled #7
2006, 17" x 17"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #8
2006, 15" x 15"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #9
2006, 15" x 15"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #11
2006, 16.5" x 16.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #12
2006, 15.5" x 15.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 

 


Untitled #13
2006, 14.5" x 14.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #14
2006, 14.5" x 14.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #15
2009, 12.5" x 14"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


John, 2009
16.5" x 16.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #16
2006, 16.5" x 16.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

 


Untitled #17
2006, 13" x 13"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

Thomas
2009, 13.5" x 11.5" "
Oil, gold leaf, and spray paint
on luan with wood frame		  
Joseph
2009, 12" x 10" "
Oil and spray paint
on luan with wood frame		  


Jude
2009, 13.5" x 11.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame

  
Maurice (Mauritus)
2008 11.5" x 10" "
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame		  
Valentine
2008, 12" x 10"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame		  
Sebastian
2007, 14.5" x 14.5"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame
   
Buy This (after Calvin Klein)
2006, 12" x 16"
Oil and spray paint on luan
with wood frame		  
What is religion? #1
2006, 18.5" x 18.5"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame 		 
What is religion? #2,
2006, 18.5" x 20"
Oil on masonite
with wood frame 		       

Nichos are small decorative Laten American folk art shadow boxes. In Mexican and South American homes nichos may sit on tables or pedestals or be incorporated into household alters. They may serve as shrines, or as objects of devotion, or as a form of protection. Contained in each nicho is a key object or figure for which it was created, typically a patron saint, ancestor, or ex-voto. Contemporary nichos have expanded to include secular subject matter and humor.

When I first saw them in Mexico, I realized they could contribute to my Divine Beauty series. I've created original archival quality prints form images derived from my paintings, and mounted them on acid free board. These in turn are mounted in authentic Mexican nichos.



6.5 x 5.5"

5.5 x 5.25"


6.5 x 5.5"

5.5 x 5.5"


5.5 x 4.75"

6.33 x 3.25"

6 x 6"


6 x 4.5"


5.5 x 4.75"

6 x 5.5"

5.5 x 4"