Gary Parker's 'Pluralisms' Retrospective at Cole Art Center
From November 19, 2026, to January 31, 2027, the Cole Art Center will host 'Pluralisms,' an exhibition by Gary Parker, an artist and educator based in Nacogdoches, Texas. This showcase spans 40 years of his artistic journey, drawing inspiration from 19th-century American landscape art, abstract expressionism, and disciplines like biology and philosophy. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied biology and anthropology, Parker was particularly influenced by Albert Bierstadt's depiction of Yosemite Valley. At Stephen F. Austin State University, he not only taught but also established the Summer Art Academy. Renowned for his textured paintings, he often creates outdoors, and his vast library and music collection highlight his inquisitive nature, urging new artists to explore opportunities beyond East Texas.
Key facts
- Gary Parker's exhibition 'Pluralisms' will be on view at the Cole Art Center in Nacogdoches, Texas, from November 19, 2026, to January 31, 2027.
- The exhibition spans roughly 40 years of Parker's work.
- Parker does not identify as an East Texas artist, stating, 'I'm an artist located in East Texas.'
- Parker earned a degree in biology and studied anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania before pursuing art.
- Albert Bierstadt's landscape of Yosemite Valley inspired Parker's interest in art.
- Parker founded the Summer Art Academy at Stephen F. Austin State University and designed sets for twelve university opera productions.
- Parker's works often incorporate thick layers of paint, plaster, wax, sheetrock mud, collage, charcoal, and found materials.
- Parker owns approximately 3,000 books and a large collection of records and CDs.
Entities
Artists
- Gary Parker
- Albert Bierstadt
- Leonard Bernstein
- Walt Whitman
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Henry David Thoreau
- John Ruskin
- John McPhee
Institutions
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Cole Art Center
- University of Pennsylvania
- Glasstire
Locations
- Nacogdoches
- Texas
- East Texas
- Yosemite Valley
- Chicago
- Houston
- Dallas