"My work is an abstract interpretation of things that happen in nature and everyday life. I find I’m often dealing with reconciling opposites and dealing with contradictions, in life, philosophy, and art. In the work, this process of reconciliation serves as a metaphor for things we deal with as humans. As with anyone involved in making serious art, I’m attempting to make something ‘real’, which in my case can be loosely defined as an attempt to find and re-present the poetry in the world around us .

Making things by hand, painting with oils oftentimes seems to be an old-fashioned endeavor in this digital age. By utilizing the romantic nature of oil paint, exploiting the qualities unique to the medium; the lush color and two-dimensional plasticity -- I’m able to express feelings, thoughts, and impressions that have arisen as a result of my ‘research’ in the field; the observation of nature and pondering the nature of human-ness."

A PDF version of my resumé is available here:           Resumé.pdf

 I have been a working and exhibiting artist for more than thirty years. Practicing art in Santa Barbara, California since 1978, I've also been a printmaking instructor at Santa Barbara City College’s Adult Education program, a landscaper/designer, a concrete artisan, a curator, and co-author of two books on plants of the Santa Barbara foothills. In 1981 I was involved in founding the Wine Cask Restaurant and I was involved as owner/manager until 2001 when I left to pursue artistic endeavors full time. My work is in numerous collections in Santa Barbara and around the country.  

Feel free to contact me regarding availability of artwork or any other questions or comments.

- Hugh Margerum       hmargerum@gmail.com  


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