The Meyer East Gallery - Artist Biography

Artist�s Statement:

�For the last several years my work has focused on my past experiences in the competitive world of business. Mixing the traditional medium of bronze and contemporary forms of flat laser cut steel, I have illustrated themes and concepts of every day work life. Integrated into the various pieces are suits, ladders, briefcases, and forms representing buildings, all of which are iconic visual representations of business. I have used sports and other physical activities as a metaphor to express the daily struggles and achievements of the contemporary businessman. I try to emphasize movement in the figures as well as some of the forms by paying particular attention to their placement in relation to each other as well as on the supporting base.

�In some cases the title of the piece comes first, other times it is the concept itself. The title works together with the visual image to illustrate the experience, sometimes physical, sometimes psychological.

�I hope to have depicted popular culture's ideas on achievement and success in an ironic and humorous fashion. This approach seems to allow the viewer an opportunity to relate to the work in a very personal manner. While not everyone wears a suit, I feel the themes transcend to the everyman. I believe business has become, for many, the sport of a lifetime.�
-Jim Rennert

Jim Rennert (b. 1958) grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Salt Lake City, Utah. After 10 years of working in business Jim started sculpting in 1990. He had his first bronze sculptures cast by a foundry in Lehi, Utah in 1992. Jim began exhibiting his work in commercial galleries in 1993. Working closely with the foundry in Lehi, Jim learned to execute all aspects of the lost wax method of casting bronze. After acquiring the necessary equipment for the production of his own work, Jim now works out of his home studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jim has received gallery representation in Park City, Utah; Sun Valley, Idaho; Sante Fe, New Mexico; Palm Desert and Carmel, California; Greenwich, Connecticut; Nantucket, Massachusetts; and New York City, New York.

Jim has completed commissions for the Utah Arts Council, Granite Education Foundation, Jordan School District, Terra Industries, and numerous other corporate and private clients. His work has been seen in many arts festivals and juried exhibitions including the 2005 Spring Salon at the Springville Art Museum, and Contemporary Realism 2005 in New York City. Sculptural Pursuit Magazine has chosen Jim's bronze sculpture as the second place winner in Sculptural Pursuit's Second Annual Art/Literary Competition. A feature article presenting the work can be found in the January 2006 issue. He has been featured in American Art Collector Magazine in both 2007 and 2008. Southwest Art Magazine will feature him in the July 2008 issue. Most recently, "Breakthrough" has been accepted for The National Sculpture Society Annual Exhibition 2008, to be held at 237 Park Avenue in New York City.

Jim's work is figurative, emphasizing movement and action. He has created many pieces depicting athletic subjects and themes. In 2004, combining his business background with his enthusiasm for sports, Jim began the series titled "Suits". This series uses sports as a metaphor to explore the competitive nature of business. "Business has become for many the sport of a lifetime," Jim says. Looking at various aspects of business life, Jim presents the contemporary businessman's daily struggle with himself and others in an ironic and humorous fashion.

Education:
� Brighton High School (1976)
� Brigham Young University (1976-1981)
� LDS Mission, England Bristol Mission (1977-1979)

Exhibits and Festivals:
� Cavalier Gallery, Nantucket, MA, (Jul 2008)
� Art Around the Corner, St George, UT (Spring 2008)
� Cavalier Gallery, Greenwich, CT (Spring 2008)
� Coda Gallery, Palm Desert, CA (Mar 2008)
� National Sculpture Society Annual Awards Exhibition, NY (Feb 2008)
� Sculpture in the Park, , Loveland, CO (Aug 2007)
� Meyer Gallery, Park City, UT (Aug 2007)
� Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, CO (2007)
� Art Around the Corner, St. George, UT (2007)
� Gallery at the Station, Ogden, UT (2007)
� 20th Anniversary Show, Cavalier Galleries, Greenwich, CT (2006)
� Finch Lane Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT (2006)
� Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, CO (2006)
� Kimball Museum Arts Festival, Park City, UT (2006)
� Artfest, Dallas, TX (2006)
� Art Around the Corner, St. George, UT (2006)
� St. George Arts Festival, St. George, UT (2006)
� The Museum of History and Art, International Show (2006)
� Allied Artists of America, New York City, NY (2005)
� Contemporary Realism, New York City, NY (2005)
� Kimball Museum Arts Festival, Park City, UT (2005)
� St. George Arts Festival, St George UT (2005)
� Springville Museum Spring Salon, Springville, UT (2005)
� 3W Gallery One Man Show, Salt Lake City, UT (2003)
� Boise Art in the Park, Boise, ID (1997)
� Kimball Museum Arts Festival, Park City, UT (1996)
� Boise Art in the Park, Boise, ID (1996)

Public Collections:
� Milrock Office Park, Salt Lake City, UT
� Granite Education Foundation, Salt Lake City, UT
� Utah Governors Mansion, Salt Lake City, UT
� The Church Museum of History and Art, Salt Lake City, UT
� Terra Industries, Union Park Center, Midvale, UT
� Utah Arts Council, Ogden Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Ogden, UT
� National Museum of Ski History, New Hartford, CT
� Murray High School, Murray, UT
� Bingham High School, South Jordan, UT
� Jordan High School, Sandy, UT
� Riverton High School, Riverton, UT
� GSL Electric, Salt Lake City, UT
� Overstock.Com, Salt Lake City, UT
� LDS Mission Offices:
o Leeds, England; London, England; Houston, TX; Chicago, IL; Rapid City, SD; San Francisco, CA; Las Vegas, NV

Partial List of Private Collections:
� Dick Morris, Washington, D.C.
� Blake Rooney, Nu Skin International, Provo UT
� President Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Church, Salt Lake City, UT
� Robert Minkoff, Potomac, MD

Publications:
� Park Record, (1996)
� Salt Lake City Tribune, (2000)
� Utah Homes and Garden, (Winter 2001-2002)
� Sculptural Pursuit Magazine, (Jan 2006)
� �Art of the Deal�, KUTV Channel 2 News, (Sept 2006)
� �Working 9-5�, American Art Collector, (Jul 2007)
� "The Art of the Deal", Santa Fe Focus Magazine, (Oct 2007)
� The Inquirer and Mirror, (Nov 2007)
� American Art Collector, (Feb 2008)
� Southwest Art Magazine, (Jul 2008)