Richard F. Kersting (American, 1937-) artist, miniaturist, printmaker, librarian and teacher. Working in Buffalo, NY artist Richard Kersting is known for his ‘magic realism’ and specializes mainly in miniature format paintings in egg tempera, acrylic, gouache and oil. He creates original intaglio prints including line engravings, drypoint etchings and mezzotints. Drawings are chiefly in graphite, silverpoint, charcoal and colored pencil. He is a member of the Buffalo Society of Artists, Buffalo, NY (1998), the Copley Society of Boston, Boston, MA (1998-1999), the Fine Arts League of Buffalo, Inc. (2001), and was a member of the Buffalo Guild of Allied Arts (1978-1979). Northern European art of the Renaissance as well as modern surrealism and symbolic realism are his major influences. Richard currently resides and maintains his studio in Amherst, NY and his works can be found in many private collections nationwide.
Richard studied at the State University of New York, College for Teachers at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY from 1956-1960 where he received his BSED (Bachelor of Science in Education). From 1962-63 he furthered his studies at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY and received his MSED (Master of Science in Education). He also studied with the noted trompe l'oeil artist John Yerger (American, 1935-2017) at Partners in Art in 1998. He taught at Potsdam Junior High School from 1961-62, Potsdam, NY, and also taught the drawing section at John Yerger’s atelier, Partners in Art in 2001, North Tonawanda, NY.
In 2003, Kersting along with fellow Western New York Trompe l-oeil painter John Yerger (American, 1935-2017) formed the Miniature Art Society of Western New York upon the realization that a miniaturist art group did not exist in New York State (currently no longer active). The Society, limited to only ten members, followed the standards of contemporary miniaturism shared by a small number of organizations in the U.S. and abroad. The Society focused on miniature objet d’art which is a venerable and universally appealing art form, respected by serious collectors world-wide.
Artist Statement:
"Although I received an abstract expressionist training, from which I benefited greatly, I have always taken my inspiration from Northern European art of the 15th-17th centuries because I see Northern Europe and the Niagara frontier as similar in feeling. Also the East Side in which I grew up was populated by people who easily could have been taken out of works by Brueghel or Duerer. Modern surrealism and symbolic realism are also major influences in my work but these also historically derive directly from Northern Renaissance Art. Technically I am a firm believer in the art training espoused by the Academie des Beaux Arts with its emphasis on drawing and realism." -Richard Kersting
Chronology:
1937- Born, August 30th, Deaconess Hospital, Buffalo, NY.
1956-60- Richard studied at the State University of New York, College for Teachers at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY where he received his BSED (Bachelor of Science in Education).
1961-62- Taught at Potsdam Junior High School, Potsdam, NY.
1962-63- He furthered his studies at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY and received his MSED (Master of Science in Education).
1978 & 79- Exhibited, Guild of Allied Arts show, (prizes, both years), Buffalo, NY.
1980- Exhibited, group show sponsored by John D'Agostino, Soho, NYC.
1982- Exhibited, group show, AAO Open, Buffalo, NY.
1998- Elected as member of the Buffalo Society of Artists, Buffalo, NY.
1998-99- Member of the Copley Society of Boston, Boston, MA.
1999- Exhibited, Spring/Summer show, Copley Society of Boston, Boston, MA. Exhibited, Buffalo Society of Artists semi-annual exhibitions, Buffalo, NY.
2000- Exhibited, “Area Artists Collection”, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, group show, Buffalo Society of Artists 104th Annual Juried Catalog Exhibition (prize), Buffalo, NY.
2001- Exhibited, juried show, “65th Annual Midyear Exhibition”, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH. Exhibited, Annual Juried Open Exhibitions, Fine Arts League of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. Taught the Drawing Section at John Yerger’s (American, 1935-2017) atelier Partners in Art, North Tonawanda, NY. Became a member of the Fine Arts League of Buffalo, Inc, Buffalo, NY.
2003- Kersting along with co-founder John Yerger (American, 1935-2017) formed The Miniature Art Society of Western New York (no longer active), Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, “Paint the Town”, auction sponsored by the Buffalo Historical Society, Buffalo, NY.
2004- Exhibited, group show with “The Miniature Art Society of Western New York Premier Exhibition”, which showcased eight charter members of the Society: Richard Kersting, John Yerger, Joe Eger, Bernadette Franklin, Jose Fuentes, Robert Masak, Coni Minneci, and Vicki Vitale, Meibohm Fine Arts, Inc, East Aurora, NY. Exhibited, group show, Miniature Art Society of Western New York, Daemen College, Fanette Goldman/Caroline Greenfield Gallery, Amherst, NY.
2009- Exhibited, two person show (with Fran Noonan, American, 1954-), “Realms Apart”, oils, etchings, gouache and egg tempera pieces, Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY. To view the pieces on our 2009 Exhibition Page.
2011- July, exhibited, group show & sale, "Echo Art Fair", with three other artists represented by Meibohm Fine Arts to include Dennis Barraclough, Joe Orffeo and Agnes Robertson, Buffalo Central Terminal, Buffalo, NY.
2016- Sept. 16-Oct. 15, exhibition, two-person show, "Observe & Imagine: Raymond Bonilla and Richard Kersting", Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY.
2017- October 5 -28, 2017, exhibition, solo show, "Richard Kersting: Art in Small Method and Idea", Opening Reception Thursday, October, 5, 4:00pm-6:00pm, Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Gallery at Daemen College, 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY.
Memberships: Guild of Allied Arts, Buffalo, NY, (1978-1979); Buffalo Society of Artists, Buffalo, NY, (1998-); The Copley Society of Boston, Boston, MA, (1998-1999); Fine Arts League of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo, NY, (2001-); and the Miniature Art Society of Western New York (Cofounder, now defunct), Buffalo, NY.
Prizes: 2nd Place for “Torso”, cast in plaster, Juror- James Bowen, Buffalo Guild of Allied Arts Show (1978), Buffalo, NY; Honorable Mention for “Module”, drypoint etching, Juror Harvey Breverman, Buffalo Guild of Allied Arts Show (1979), Buffalo, NY; The Hyatt's All Things Creative Award for “'A' is for Apple”, egg tempera, 1999, Buffalo Society of Artists 104th Annual Juried Catalog Exhibition (2000), Juror Shirley Madill (Senior Curator, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Canada), Buffalo, NY; 4th Place for “Cold Water”, oil, 49th Annual Spring Member's Exhibition (2003), Juror John Hodgins of Batavia, NY, Fine Arts League of Buffalo, NY; The Margaret E. Mead Memorial Award, sponsored by Gerald Mead for “Kitchen Group”, oil, Juror Louis Grachos, Director, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo Society of Artists 107th Annual Juried Catalog Exhibition (2003), Buffalo, NY; Special award for “Putto”, mezzotint, 50th Annual Spring Member's Exhibition (2004), Juror Adele Elmer, Austin Harvard Gallery of Pittsford, NY, Fine Arts League of Buffalo, NY; Honorable Mention for “Fifteen Minutes”, miniature oil, 51st Annual Spring Member's Exhibition (2005), Juror Dick Kane of Rochester, NY, Fine Arts League of Buffalo, NY; Honorable Mention for “Ellicott Creek, Williamsville”, Etching, 51st Annual Juried Open Exhibition (2005), Juror Victor Mastrandea of Rochester, NY, Fine Arts League of Buffalo, NY.
Galleries: Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY.
To view additional works, please view the artist's website link
For possible additional information or other images from this artist, please visit the AskArt link
(Rewritten & compiled chronologically by Mark Strong of Meibohm Fine Arts, Inc., East Aurora, NY, 03/2009, Sources: Meiboh,m Fine Art's internal records; the artist’s website and resume; artofwildlife.com, “Miniature Art Societies and Organizations of the Revival Period 1896-present day”, 2004-MASWNY: Miniature Art Society of Western New York, Notes; Bio info and Artist’s Statement from Buffalo Society of Artists website bufsocart.com)