Bruce Garrity’s paintings are poetic explorations of pictorial inventions and equivalents for visual experience. The paintings act as sites for events that stem from perception, memory and the experience of history/art history. Utilizing a broad vocabulary of painterly means in the pursuit of pictorial drama, the paintings emphasize an uncanny aspect of these moments. The spaces depicted are the more intimate surroundings of interiors and objects, whether of the studio or even when outdoors, the being in as opposed to the looking upon these circumstances. These juxtapositions suggest the human presence even when the figure is unseen and focus on engaging the viewer as an implicit participant.
Garrity received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from the University of Delaware, and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Alaska, he lives and works in Penns Grove, NJ, on the Delaware River.
The artist’s work is in numerous private and public collections including The Stedman Art Gallery of Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey; The Hoyt Institute in New Castle, Pennsylvania; Cooper Medical Center, Camden, New Jersey; and Capital One Financial, Wilmington, Delaware.
He has taught at Rutgers University in Camden since 1997. He has also been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Delaware, Stockton College, Rowan University, Delaware College of Art and Design, and several area community colleges.
Education
2001 The University of the Arts Philadelphia, PA MFA, Painting
1984 University of Delaware, Newark, DE BFA,Painting and Drawing
Awards & Honors
2010 Sybil S. Cohen Award for Excellence in Teaching, Rutgers University
1998 – 2001 The University of the Arts Merit Scholarship
1995 Purchase Award, Southern New Jersey Artists X, Stedman Art Gallery
1984 Honors Faculty Award, University of Delaware
1983 Purchase Award Hoyt Juried National Hoyt Institute
Honors Grant for Film, University of Delaware
Bibliography
2002 Besso, Michelle. “Mural Unites Ballet and Nature”. Wilmington News Journal (Wilmington, DE), August 20, 2002
Nutter, Tom. “Two Arts Merge”. Wilmington News Journal (Wilmington, DE), August 20, 2002
Smith, April R. “The Great Wall of Newark”. Newark Post (Newark, DE), August 16, 2002
“A Colorful Welcome”. Photo: John Llera, Newark Post (Newark, DE), October 25, 2002
1995 McGuire, Nancy. “Southern New Jersey Artists X”. Stedman Art Gallery, Rutgers University (Camden, NJ), 1995
Collection
Public (partial list) The Stedman Art Gallery, Rutgers University Camden, NJ The Hoyt Institute of the Arts, New Castle, PA Cooper Medical Center, Camden, NJ Capital One Financial, Wilmington, DE
Professional Experience
2015 Juror, Large Works, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
2006 JurorRehoboth Plein Air Festival, Rehoboth Beach, DE
2001 Visiting Artist Lecture, Foundations Colloquium, Department of Art, University of Delaware
1989 Visiting Artist, Painting Department, Department of Art, University of Delaware
Teaching
Present Adjunct Professor of Art: Rutgers University Camden, NJ
Adjunct Professor of Art: Stockton University, Pomona, NJ
1999 - 2009 Adjunct Faculty: Cumberland County College, Vineland, NJ
1997- 2004 Adjunct Faculty: University of Delaware, Newark, DE
2002 Mural, Mid-Atlantic Ballet and the City of Newark, Newark, DE
Exhibitions
Solo
2015 Bruce Garrity: Recent Work, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2014 Bruce Garrity: Inside & Out, Warner Gallery, O’Brien Art Center, St. Andrews Academy, Middletown, DE
Bruce Garrity: Recent Work, Marlin Gallery, Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ
Bruce Garrity: Recent Work, Art Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
2011 Bruce Garrity: Landscapes, Paul Robeson Library, Rutgers University/ Camden Campus, Camden, NJ
2010 Bruce Garrity: Recent Work, Crestmont Gallery, Collingswood, NJ
2008 Bruce Garrity: As Safe As Yesterday Is, Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach, DE
2005 Bruce Garrity: Natural Orders, High Street Gallery, Millville, NJ
2004 Bruce Garrity: Green World, Community Cultural Center, Cecil Community College, Northeast, MD
2003 Bruce Garrity: Smaller Works, Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach, DE
2001 Recent Paintings And Works In Progress, University of Delaware Art Department Gallery University of Delaware, Newark, DE
MFA Painting Thesis Exhibition, Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2000 Into The Woods, Frank Guaracini Jr. Fine and Performing Arts Center, Cumberland County College, Vineland, NJ
Recent Paintings, Salem County Courthouse, Salem, NJ
1998 Partners In Art: Bruce Garrity And Noreen Scott-Garrity, Markeim Art Center, Haddonfield, NJ
1995 Southern New Jersey Artists X, Stedman Art Gallery, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ Purchase: "Venus and Fish” (Catalog)
1984 Bruce Garrity: Paintings, Monotypes & Watercolors, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE
Group
2012 Centenial Juried Exhibition, Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, DE Curator: Curator: John B. Ravenal Catalog and Artist Talk
Dreamers, Movers, & Shakers: The Artwork Of South Jersey, Medford Art Center, Medford, NJ Curators: Bruce Garrity, Michael Cagno, Phil Carroll, Karen Chigounis
Philadelphia Drawing, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA Curators: Alex Kanevsky and Bill Scott
New Brunswick Art Salon 2012, Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ
These Parts / These Places: Bruce Garrity, Bobbie Adams, Eric Fowler, Barabara Schaff, Gallery @ 792, Collingswood, NJ
Drawing Room, Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Hopkins House Gallery, Haddon Township, NJ
2011 Invitational Oils: Paul Dusold, Bruce Garrity, Allan Gorman, Perkins Center for the Arts, Collingswood. NJ
2008 Object/Desire, Hopkins House Gallery of Contemporary Art, Haddon Township, NJ
2007 Projected Memory, Gallery 919, Wilmington, DE
Selections, LaPelle Galleries, Philadelphia, PA
2006 Juried Watercolor Exhibition, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
Nova: Invitational, Perkins Center for the Arts: Collingswood, Collingswood, NJ
2005 Nova: Invitational, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, Loveladies, NJ
2004 Feast or Famine, Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Hopkins House Gallery, Haddon Township, NJ
2003 The Child Within, Markeim Art Center, Haddonfield, NJ
“The Unbroken Circle” A Tribute To Quita Brodhead, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
2002 and 1999 Cumberland County College Faculty Exhibition, Frank Guaracini Jr. Fine and Performing Arts Center, Cumberland County College, Vineland, NJ
2001 Six Degrees Of Cold Storage, CAA MFA Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
Fierce Alliances, Chester County Art Association, West Chester, PA
1999 Distinguished Artists Of Southern New Jersey, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, Loveladies, NJ
Juried Works On Paper, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
1997 Fin De Si`Ecle, Traveling Exhibition, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington DE; Sussex County Arts Council, Georgetown, DE Delaware State University Gallery, Dover, DE
Winter Invitational, Petrides Gallery, Cherry Hill, NJ
1996 Westmoreland Art Nationals, Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, PA Jurors: Richard L. Dana and Paul Miller Kline Award of Excellence
Annual Juried Exhibition, Center for the Arts in Southern New Jersey, Marlton, NJ Juror: Steve Lanier Honorable Mention
35th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, Wayne Art Center. Wayne, PA Juror: Sidney Goodman Honorable Mention
Annual Juried Exhibition, The Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA
133rd Exhibition Of Small Paintings, The Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful Food, The Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA
1995 Monroe County Arts Council 3rd Biennial, Artspace 534, Stroudsburg, PA
Annual Juried Exhibition, Center For The Arts in Southern New Jersey, Marlton, NJ Juror: John Ravenal Special Award: "Hotel Pool"
1992 Juried Works On Paper, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
1987, and 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983 Juried Members Exhibition, Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE
1983 Hoyt Juried National, Hoyt Institute of the Arts, New Castle, PA Juror: Philip Pearlstein Purchase Award: "Studio Still Life #2" Catalog
1983 Juried Annual, Academy of the Arts, Easton, MD
Exhibitions Curated
Hopkins House Gallery of Contemporary Art Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission Selected Exhibitions: 2006 - 2012
Summer House Pattern Disruptive Field Manual Garden in Winter Surfacings Object/Desire Domestic Bliss-ter Skin-n-Bone Lines and Puddles Into Your Head Abstract Realities Intimacies Drawn Attentions
With the RCCA and Dept. of Fine Arts, Rutgers University - Camden 2013 Dark Eye Glances: Romantic Tendencies in Landscape Exhibition and Panel Discussion (with Noreen Scott Garrity)
2012 Surface as Signifier, Exhibition and Panel Discussion (with Peg Curtin) Marlin Gallery, Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ, UD Crane, Philadelphia, PA
2011 Working Drawing, Exhibition and Panel Discussion
2010 Seeing Voices: The Visual Voice, Exhibition and Symposium (with Margery Amdur)
2009 To Be or Not to Be: a Painters Question, Exhibition and Symposium (with Margery Amdur)
