Joseph Vance

Joseph Vance's primary field of interest
is the big game animals of the world. He
has conducted six major study expeditions
to Africa and Asia since 1970 for first-hand
field experience and research. Countries
include: Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South
Africa, South-West Africa, Ceylon and
India. Mr. Vance is presently serving as an
officer and member of the Executive Board
of the Society of Animal Artists. His work
was first publicly exhibit in 1967 in the West
End Community Council show in New York
City, where he took 2nd place in the
Graphic Arts division. Media used by
Vance varies from acrylic on board, to
pencil and bronze sculpture.
It was during the 1960s when Andrew
Wyeth, James Audubon, and other realists
work was popularly accepted in major
museums that the rediscovery of Ameri-
can figurative art became an acceptable
movement in art. The resurgence of real-
ism in America was led by a dynamic group
of African, western and wildlife painters.
The limited edition prints pioneered by
these artists brought realistic art info the
homes of many Americans. There is no
doubt that realism, especially wildlife, is
having a most successtul exposure
throughout America. Today as art and
science merge and with the relativity of the
objects portrayed taking on more universal
meaning, we find in Joe Vance's portraits
of African wildlife the reflections of the
artistic philosophies and concerns for this
age; that of ecology, the environment and
preservation.
Joseph Vance's sentiments are ex-
pressed in the following manner, "My work
is an attempt to realistically portray the
large mammals in their natural habitat. I try
to capture not only the anatomical defini-
tions of the animal, but the grace and
beauty, dignity and majesty inherent in
each wild species."
"For myself, to know a particular
species I must see it and study it in its
natural element. Nowhere else is the
character of the animal so clearly
revealed."
"Animal art is probably the oldest re-
corded form of art. I have been interested
in it ever since I can remember. Its recent
popularity may be a result of an awareness
that the wild places and wild creatures are
fast disappearing."

[)espite prevailing fashions a few great
artists of every age, working in their partic-
ular field of specialty, have produced time-
less portraits of animals. Today with space
technology and freeways, it is helpful to
have artists re-directing our interest to the
fact that we share this good green planet
with other life forms.
Collective Exhibitions
1971 Manufacturers Hanover Trust,
New York City
1972 Grand Central Art Galleries,
New York City
1973 Grand Central Art Galleries,
New York City
Southern Vermont Art Center,
Manchester, Vermont
1974 Grand Central Art Galleries,
New York City
1975 Grand Central Art Galleries,
New York City
1976 Grand Central Art Galleries,
New York City
The Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts,
Columbus, Ohio
1978 Sportsman's Edge Gallery,
New York City
Owens Gallery, Oklahoma City
1979 Sportsman's Edge Gallery,
New York City
Salmagundi Club, New York City

Other Exhibitions
Society of Animal Artists, New York City
Crossroads of Sport, New York City
The Tryon Gallery, Nairobi
The Collector's Cabinet, New York City
Hardy's Gallery, Mexico City