Harry Geffert

Harry Geffert’s work explores an obsession with the natural world through his unmatched ability to replicate its delicate details in fine bronze casting. While some pieces are gnarly tree formations isolated atop pedestals to illustrate their status, others are flat wall- mounted compositions made of cast broom clippings and quinoa, that create large color field paintings of, in fact, large colorful fields. In recent years, Geffert has begun to blur the boundaries between painting and sculpture, generating the physical manifestation of the artist’s remembrances of nature.

Geffert’s legendary reputation establishes him as an expert sculptor, educator and major contributor to the continuum of Texas art history. In his over fifty-year career, he has had numerous solo museum exhibitions, an NEA grant, and a Legend Award from the Dallas Visual Art Center. Geffert also established the sculpture department at Texas Christian University and fostered many aspiring artists there through 27 years of teaching. In the 1980’s Geffert left academia and started his own Green Mountain Foundry in Crowley, Texas. There he produced impeccable bronze castings for artists Joseph Havel, Linda Ridgway, James Surls, Vernon Fisher, Frances Bagley, Ken Little, Clyde Connell, and others and soon established his as the foremost foundry in Texas. At age 65, Geffert closed the foundry to other artists to focus solely on his own artistic interests.

Harry Geffert received his B.S. from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos and his M.A. from New Mexico Highlands University in 1961. His work is housed in major public collections including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Modern Museum of Fort Worth. Geffert’s work is also part of many exemplary private collections such as the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Nona Barrett and the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Hanley, both of Dallas.

Submitted by Cris Worley Fine Arts