Wayne Amedee
Artist Statement
Art has long been integral in my life. As a child I experienced two formative events: a visit to the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, where I was fascinated by African sculpture and the work of artists such as Jackson Pollock and Lee Bontecou, as well as the influence of a relative who encouraged me to paint. Also influential is the fact that I grew up in the countryside on the banks of the Mississippi River. My lifelong spiritual connection with that mystical, powerful body of water continues. After my interest was awakened, the works of artists such as Robert Rauschenberg and Paul Klee, as well as Frank Stella and Joel Shapiro, have provided me with visual stimulation and intellectual inspiration, whether I was painting early landscapes or more recently, making abstract constructions. The titling of my work has long involved auto-biographical material and material from literature, literature as varied as American poetry or the Psalms, all adding to the content. Making art is a necessity for me, as with many artists. The act of making art provides me with the means to express my rich interior life, to share my thoughts and feelings with others.
Artist Bio
With a career spanning four decades, Wayne Amedee has seen his artwork succeed both locally and nationally. Over the years, in addition to New Orleans, he has shown in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. He has also earned numerous awards, including a Rockefeller Grant, New Orleans Museum of Art Award, and Loyola University’s Jesuit Award for “People for Others”. He is represented in NOMA’s permanent collection, has helped establish Loyola University's permanent sculpture garden and is continuing his efforts through the Frere Joseph Cornet Archive to establish a chair in African Art History at Loyola. Amedee recently completed a large-scale public sculpture at the entrance to City Park, entitled “Grateful Labors”, a tribute to all who have helped and continue to help with the rebuilding of New Orleans post Katrina. He is a founder of the Contemporary Arts Center, actively involved with NOMA and Loyola University of New Orleans and is a trustee of Longue Vue House and Gardens.