About the Artist
Scott Holloway
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Artist Statement
I am a realist painter utilizing the same materials and techniques employed by Renaissance artists. In addition to painting classical portraits, I explore ideas, develop them conceptually, and incorporate the resulting visions into a thematic series. Currently, my independent work centers on presenting the holy relics of Saints and biblical figures as highly detailed anatomical images. I fuse these images with passages from the Bible and text from treatises on medical dissection. Three distinct series, respectively entitled Holy Relic, Adam, and Sacred Heart, have emerged from my recent artistic explorations.
My Holy Relic series combines symbolism and text with anatomical images carefully selected to reflect a specific Saint’s history, qualities, and patronage. For example, unique images of hands visually define the legacy of the apostle Luke, Patron Saint of artists, sculptors, and surgeons.
My Adam series centers on the skull, a timeless symbol of Original Sin. Adam’s skull appears at the base of the cross in several classical Crucifixion scenes, juxtaposing mortality and eternal life. In my series, the image is beset by text from the Book of Genesis, enhancing the skull’s presence by revealing the life of the man to whom it once belonged.
My Sacred Heart series evolved from several drawings I made for my wife over a period of time, in honor of special occasions such as anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. These images of the human heart are now surrounded by anatomical text and married into a series of works created in celebration of Love.
Scott Holloway has handled many privately commissioned portraits along with corporate portraits for such clients as Montserrat College of Art, Worcester State College and Tufts University. His work has shown in such venues as The State House in Boston, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the Italian American Cultural Center at Mount Carmel.
Artist's Bio
Scott Holloway is New England’s premier classical portrait artist. Specializing in realist painting techniques dating back to the Renaissance, Holloway has painted everyone from university presidents to American historical figures. His work hangs in many of the finest collections in the northeast and elsewhere.
Born in Bellingham, Massachusetts in 1969, Holloway discovered his talent at an early age. Encouraged by his teachers to pursue an art career, he explored realism in the tradition of the Northern Renaissance. His efforts won him several awards for his work in the late 1980s. In the 1990s, Holloway spent four years studying the oil painting techniques of the Old Masters at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts. Since then, the artist has been working steadily from his studios in Worcester, and exhibiting his work at area galleries and major juried shows.
Holloway’s focus has always been the depiction of human anatomy, in whole and in dissected form. “Years ago, artists would learn anatomy by looking directly at a dissected human body,” says Holloway. “Today, artists have the benefit of using anatomy books with color photographs. In addition, our modern methods of dissection allow for really precise cuts in showing a cross-section of any part of a human body. This really gives artists a different way of looking at anatomy.” Holloway exploits this view in a unique series of works reminiscent of his Catholic upbringing.
Currently, Holloway’s independent work centers on depicting the Holy Relics of Saints and Biblical figures as highly detailed anatomical images. Fusing these images with passages from the Bible and text from treatises on medical dissection, the artist has produced three distinct series of paintings and mixed-media drawings, entitled Holy Relic, Adam, and Sacred Heart.
“I love to work with concepts,” says Holloway. “I have also created a Madonna and Child series. These works at first appear to the viewer as religious icons. But if you look closer, you will notice I have included an underlying ‘femme fatale’ theme using a lot of ironic symbolism.”
Over the next few years, Holloway will apply his expert knowledge of classical theories of composition, including the Golden Section to his forthcoming body of work.
© Angela D. Tooley, 2005
Major Exhibitions:
1993 - Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA: Four-Person Show
1994 - Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA: Open House Exhibition
1995 - Bellingham, MA Public Library: Bellingham Cultural Council Art Competition
1995 - Massachusetts State House, Boston: Exhibit of Massachusetts Artists
1995 - Zullo Gallery, Medfield, MA: Copley Society Exhibition
1995 - First Church Gallery Springfield, MA: National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism in Art
1996 - Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA: Art Auction
1997 - Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA: Art Auction
1998 - Art Center, Southboro, MA: Regional Juried Show
1998 - Cultural Art Center, Hudson, MA: Juried Exhibit (Award Winner - Best of Show)
1999 - Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA: Solo Show, “Figures in Oil”
1999 - Post Road Art Center, Marlborough, MA: Art Auction
1999 - The Studio, Hudson, MA: “Bodies of Work” Exhibit
1999 - First Church Gallery, Springfield, MA: National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism in Art
1999 - Artsworcester Biennial, Worcester MA: Exhibit
2002 - Bellingham Public Library, Bellingham, MA: Arts Exhibition
2002 - Arts Alliance, Hudson, MA: Fall Juried Exhibition
2002 - Cultural Arts Alliance, Hopkinton, MA: Juried Exhibition
2003 - Mt.Carmel Italian-American Center, Worcester, MA: Solo Show, “Anatomy & Christianity”
2003 - Arts Alliance Hudson, MA: Fall Juried Exhibition
2004 - Cultural Arts Alliance, Hopkinton, MA: Juried Exhibition
2004 - Arts Alliance Hudson, MA: Fall Juried Exhibition
2005 - Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA: Alumni Exhibition
Commissioned Work:
1993 - David Brennor, D.M.D., Bellingham, MA: Landscape, Purgatory Chasm
1993 - Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA: Portrait replica
1994 - William Kahn, P.C., Beverly, MA: Ceiling mural, skyscape
1995 - Mario Higuera, Nogales, AZ: Figurative drawing
1996 - Ken King, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA: Portrait of Olga Hayes
1996 - Laura Blades, Uxbridge, MA: Landscape, mountains
1997 - Johnny Appleseeds Restaurant, Leominster, MA: Mural, figure with text
1998 - Maury’s Kung Fu Academy, Worcester, MA: Donated painting, five animals
1998 - Cole and Bridger Hendzal, Milford, MA: Double portrait
1999 - Paul and Leedan Deardon, Rutland, MA: Wedding portrait
1999 - Maury’s Kung Fu Academy, Worcester, MA: Mural, Chinese Door God
1999 - First National Bank, Beverly, MA: Portrait, Larry Smith
1999 - Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA: Donated portrait
2000 - Abby’s House Art Auction, Worcester, MA: Donated portrait
2000 - Mr. and Mrs. Tom Roberts, Oxford, MA: Anniversary double portrait
2000 - Ann Parker, Shrewsbury, MA: Portrait, grandchild
2001 - Ray and Natalia Hoyte, Worcester, MA: Double Portrait with pet ferret
2002 - Ruth Holloway, Bellingham, MA: Pet portrait, Greyhound profile
2004 - Christine Smith, Grafton, MA: Portrait, deceased father-in-law
2003 - Worcester State College, MA: Two portraits, former president Kalyan Ghosh, Ph.D.
2004 - Tufts University, MA: Portraits former deans Franklin Lowe, M.D. and Philip Kosch, D.V.M.
2005 - Dr. Jeff Smith, Stillwater Farms, Holliston, MA: commissioned sign with artwork
2005 - Town of Franklin, MA: portrait of Benjamin Franklin to be incorporated into town seal
Bibliography:
Ø “Presidential Portrait to be Unveiled” (with photo). Worcester Telegram and Gazette,
Sep 13, 2003
Ø Featured Artist, Pascarelli Gallery Online. (http://www.pascarelligallery.net/holloway/holloway.html)
Ø “State of the Art: Art Online.” The Worcester Phoenix, Dec 17, 1999.
Ø “Artist’s Traditional Techniques Create Portraits with Depth.” Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Mar 5, 1999.
Ø Review, “Figures in Oil” solo exhibition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Mar 5, 1999.
Ø “State of Art.” Milford Daily News, Jun 20, 1995.
Ø “Work of Three Bellingham Artists to Hang in State House” (with photo). Milford Daily News, Jun 1995.
Ø “Bellingham Artists’ Paintings on Display in Senator Bertonazzi’s State House Office.”
Bellingham Bulletin, Jun 1995.
Education:
1991-1995 - Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA. Pursuit of Bachelor of Fine Arts: Major in
Fine Art, Minor in Illustration.
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