On View

Russell Crotty: A Look into the Vast  

Russell Crotty

Russell Crotty has made important contributions to contemporary drawing since the early 1990s. Utilizing ballpoint
pen as his primary medium, he is especially renowned for his distinctive drawings on paper-coated suspended globes
and within large-scale books. His work engages astronomy, landscape, mapping, surfing, coastal studies, along with
an idiosyncratic commentary on the natural and manmade worlds. Crotty ambitiously broadens his vast body of work
by incorporating bioresin, collage, and non-traditional materials, exploring new ideas that investigate and expand the
notion of “works on paper.” As a serious amateur astronomer, Crotty has studied the night sky for decades, utilizing
his own array of telescopes with occasional sojourns to professional observatories. He has made important
observational contributions to accredited astronomy organizations such as NASA and ALPO (Association of Lunar
and Planetary Observers). He obsessively and enthusiastically documents the night sky and celestial phenomenon.
The resulting body of astronomical work is informed by scientific research by contemporary astrophysicists,
romanticized by his extensive knowledge of exploratory 19th century science, and fueled by his immense passion for
the cosmos. Crotty’s work has been extensively exhibited nationally and internationally and is owned by private
collectors, museums, and public collections. He is a 2015 Guggenheim Fellow.

Russell Crotty in Studio

The Artist in Residence program brings professional performing and visual artists, composers, creative writers, filmmakers, and others to the UCA campus for one or more days to expand student learning experiences and provide enriching events for the community. The program is funded by UCA’s arts fee with additional support from Engage Management. For more information about CAHSS, visit https://uca.edu/cahss/ or call 501-450-3293.