Bruce Pearson, Resident Artist Lecture 2001

Bruce Pearson gives a lecture and shares slides of his paintings. Pearson works with text, and is interested in the optical grid. Pearson is curious about how paper and image function in Op art, and continues exploring this theme, and opticality more generally, in his practice. Pearson believes that working with words and nature gives his work subjectivity. Other exploratory interests of Pearson’s include reflective structures, reflective surfaces, and working from landscape. In addition to his work in painting and text, Pearson maintains an active drawing practice, stating how he uses drawing to block out ideas to determine whether he will work through an idea in paint. There are two scales of surface that Pearson primarily works in: eight by six and four by five (both in feet). The larger works include more detail than the smaller ones. Pearson is interested in creating layers and allowing for different entry points for interpretation, giving his work structure and dimensionality.