Ron Hoover
cited in Fresh Paint.
Beyond the arts district, farther west than the fashionable West End and outside the fringes of the Houston art scene is where Ron Hoover can be found. Since moving to Houston in the early 70's Hoover has become somewhat of a legend; an artist admired as much for his persistence and independence as for the work he produces. For the sake of his art Hoover lives a reclusive life in extreme poverty. The 59-year old painter lives and works in a small apartment with no air conditioning, a small space heater, and an old radio to keep him company. The single two-story building sits between two overgrown empty fields hidden from the street behind a tall corrugated steel fence that helps keep intruders away.
The content of Hoover's art comes directly from his personal experiences, alternative newspapers, and public radio news programs. The Arlington Museum of Art's exhibition is based on a series of work that Hoover started in 1996 using oil pastel on matte board. As in his previous work, Hoover continues to probe the dark recesses of human nature. He reveals the untold truths behind little known allegations of crime and corruption. Hoover's oil pastels consist of psychological portraits of wealthy power hungry types such as corporate leaders, politicians, military dictators, and their victims. The dark almost monochromatic work demands the viewer's close attention and should be studied carefully.
Ron Hoover received his M.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma in 1977 and his B.F.A. from the University of Houston in 1975. His exhibition history is extensive with one-person exhibitions dating back to 1981. Hoover's work has been shown in numerous group exhibitions throughout Texas, the United States, and abroad. This exhibition marks the first one-person exhibition for Hoover outside of South Texas.
Rodney Rogers
2004
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