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Education

  • 1975 MFA, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA

  • 1973 Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, CA

  • 1972 BA, Pomona College, Claremont, CA

Solo Exhibitions 

  • 2009 Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art, Ft. Collins, CO, “Out of Shapes: Stainless Steel Sculpture”;

  • 2008 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, “Explorations in Metal”;

  • 2006 Dayton Art Institute, Dayton OH, “Monumental Sculptures by Bret Price”;

  • 2004 Reyne Gallery, Cincinnati, OH;

  • 2004 Sinclair Community College Gallery, Dayton, OH;

  • 2003 The Art Foundry Gallery, Sacramento, CA;

  • 2001 Elizabeth Edwards Fine Arts, Laguna Beach, CA;

  • 1998 Wyndy Morehead Gallery, New Orleans, LA;

  • 1997 Tustin Renaissance Gallery, Tustin, CA;

  • 1996 Wyndy Morehead Gallery, New Orleans, LA, “Range of Motion”;

  • 1996 Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, “Burnt Offerings”;

  • 1995 Kavish Gallery, Ketchum, ID;

  • 1991 Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA;

  • 1990 L.A. Artcore, Los Angeles, CA “Uprisings”;

  • 1990 Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA;

  • 1989 Modern Museum of Art, Santa Ana, CA “Recent Large

  • Scale Sculpture In Steel” ;

  • 1986 Mills House Gallery, Garden Grove, CA;

  • 1976 The Sculpture Gallery, San Diego, CA;

  • 1975 Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA.

Two Persons Exhibitions 

  • 2008 Gallery MODA, Albuquerque, NM;

  • 2004 BGH Gallery, Santa Monica, CA;

  • 2003 Clark Contemporary Gallery, Mammoth Mountain, CA;

  • 1992 Solomon Dubnick Gallery, Sacramento, CA;

  • 1989 Diane Nelson Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA;

  • 1985 Susan Spiritus Gallery, Newport Beach, CA “Metal Works”; 1982 Laguna Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, CA. “Contemporary Artists 7".

Group Exhibitions, Major Commissions  

  • 2010 “Malibu 2010, Summer Sculpture Exhibition” Malibu, CA;

  • 2008 Third Biennial Sculpture Exhibition, Chattanooga, TN;

  • 2008 Krasl Biennial Sculpture Invitational, Saint Joseph, MI;

  • 2008 “Mind Over Metal”, Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA;

  • 2008 “California in New York”, Hubert Gallery, New York, NY;

  • 2008 “Art On The Streets”, 10th Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Colorado Springs, CO;

  • 2007 “Art On The Streets”, 9th Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Colorado Springs, CO;

  • 2007 “In The Shadow Of The Alps”, Group Sculpture Show, St. Urban, Switzerland;

  • 2006 “Peace Up”, 2004, 33’ high, Promised gift to The Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH;

  • 2006 “Sculptural States”, Los Angeles, CA, Four person Sculpture Exhibition;

  • 2006 Macon Arts, Macon, GA, “Group Sculpture Show”;

  • 2005 “Malibu 2005, Summer Sculpture Exhibition”, Malibu, CA;

  • 2004 “Rapture”, Galvanized steel, 12’ high, Collection of Trinity University, San Antonio, TX;

  • 2003 Creative Arts Guild – Center for the Arts, Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, Dalton, GA – Best in Show;

  • 2003 3-D Chicago, Pier Walk, The Chicago International Sculpture Exhibition, Chicago, IL;

  • 2003 “The Artful Teapot”, 20th Century Expressions from the Kamm Collection, Gardiner Museum of Ceramics, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Traveling Exhibition);

  • 2003 University of Hawaii at Manoa Art Gallery, Honolulu, HI, “The 8th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition”;

  • 2002 The Art Foundry Gallery, Sacramento, CA, “Invitational Sculpture Exhibit”;

  • 2002 Clark Contemporary Gallery, Mammoth Mountain, CA, “Mixed Company”;

  • 2002 Carl Schlosberg Fine Arts, Sherman Oaks, CA, “30th Anniversary Exhibition”

  • 2002 “The Gathering”, Steel, paint, 17.5’ x 11’, Art in Public Places, Brea, CA;

  • 2002 3-D Chicago, Pier Walk, The Chicago International Sculpture Exhibition, Chicago, IL;

  • 2001 “Dance”, 57 N Gallery, Washington, D.C.;

  • 2001 “Conch”, Steel, paint. 6.5’ h. Collection of Ocean Reef Cultural Arts Center, Key Largo, FL;

  • 2000 “Enter Laughing; Humor in Contemporary Art”, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA;

  • 2000 “Opus”, Steel, paint, 12’ h. x 39’ l. Collection of Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH;

  • 2000 “May in New York”, Carl Schlosberg Fine Arts, New York, New York;

  • 2000 Tustin Renaissance Gallery, Tustin, CA;

  • 1999 “Faith Lift”, Steel, paint, 19.5’ h. Permanent collection, Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH;

  • 1999 Malibu Sculpture Exhibition, Carl Schlosberg Fine Arts, Malibu, CA;

  • 1998 Pomona College, Claremont, CA “Four Players”, Steel, paint, 13’ h. x 14’ w.;

  • 1998 Carl Schlosberg Fine Arts, Sherman Oaks, CA “25th Anniversary Exhibition”;

  • 1997 The Ralls Collection, Washington, DC Commission, “Born Reddy”, Steel, paint 7’h.;

  • 1997 Carl Schlosberg Fine Arts, Malibu, CA Group sculpture exhibit. Partial list of artists included: George Rickey, Anthony Caro, Robert Indiana, Gwynne Murrill;

  • 1997 Mr. & Mrs. Meyer Luskin, Los Angeles, CA Commission, “Gates of Luskiny”, 20’ w x 7’ h.;

  • 1995 California State University at Bakersfield, Visiting Artist Program;

  • 1994 Solomon Dubnick Gallery, Sacramento, CA “Sculptural Furnishings III;

  • 1994 Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA “On Water”;

  • 1993 ART/LA ’93, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA

  • 1993 Solomon Dubnick Gallery, Sacramento, CA “Sculptural Furnishings II”;

  • 1993 Works Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA “Kustom Grafix: Fine Art from the Underground”;

  • 1993 Carl Schlosberg Fine Arts, Malibu, CA “Malibu International Sculpture Exhibition”;

  • 1993 City of Brea Gallery, Brea, CA “Sculpture ‘93”;

  • 1992 Solomon Dubnick Gallery, Sacramento, CA “Sculptural Furnishings”;

  • 1992 Works Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA “Real Space”;

  • 1991 Galleries of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont, CA “Professor’s Choice”;

  • 1991 Diane Nelson Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA “Collector’s Choice”;

  • 1990 ART/LA ’90, Los Angeles, Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA;

  • 1990 Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA “Cal Arts Alumni”;

  • 1990 Koll Center, Newport Beach, CA “Industrious Artists/Industrial Materials”;

  • 1990 Irvine Civic Center, Irvine, CA “Sculptural Views”;

  • 1989 Griffin Related Properties, Lake Forest, CA Commission, “Up and Over”, Steel, paint, 15’ h.;

  • 1988 ART/LA ’88, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA;

  • 1988 Carl Schlosberg Fine Arts, Los Angeles, CA “Contemporary Bronze Sculpture”;

  • 1988 George Boone, San Marino, CA Commission: “Looped”, Steel, 8’ h.;

  • 1988 Carl Schlosberg Fine Arts, Los Angeles, CA “Contemporary Abstract Sculpture”;

  • 1987 Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA “Los Angeles Public Art, Concept/Reality”;

  • 1987 ”Arts Irvine ‘87”, Irvine, CA;

  • 1986 Laguna Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, CA Permanent Collection: “Plain Wrap”;

  • 1986 City of Newport Beach, Newport Beach, CA “Metalphor”, Steel, 8 1⁄2’x4’x2’;

  • 1986 “The City Terrace Sculpture Invitational”, Orange, CA;

  • 1984 Pepsico, Purchase, NY “Big Scoop”, Steel, 9’x6’x4’;

  • 1984 Galleries of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont CA “Professor’s Choice 2”;

  • 1983 Laguna Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, CA “Orange County Clay”;

  • 1981 Planning Research Corporation, McClean, VI “Loop Hole”, Polished Aluminum and Marble, 6 1⁄2’ diameter;

  • 1981 Scripps College, Claremont, CA “37th Annual Scripps Invitational Ceramics Exhibition”;

  • 1981 Downey Museum of Art, Downey, CA “Westwood Clay National”;

  • 1979 Hester Development Company, Santa Ana, CA “Twisted Flex”, Steel, 28’x3’x1’;

  • 1976 “California Design, ‘76”, Los Angeles, CA.

Teaching Experience

  • ​1996 Pomona College, Claremont, CA , Lecturer in Art, Sculpture;

  • 1995 California State University at Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA, Visiting Artist;

  • 1976-87 Chapman University, Orange, CA, Assistant Professor of Art.

Workshops and Lectures 

  • 2006 Wright State University, Dayton, OH;

  • 2004 Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH;

  • 2004 Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH;

  • 1995 California State University at Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA; 

  • 1993 Art Institute of Southern California, Laguna Beach, CA; 

  • 1988 California State University at Sacramento, Sacramento, CA; 

  • 1987 Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA;

  • 1985 State University of New York, Purchase, NY;

  • 1983 University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI;

  • 1980 Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA;

  • 1980 Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA;

  • 1979 California State University at San Jose, San Jose, CA;

  • 1979 Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, CA;

  • 1977 University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA;

  • Pomona College, Claremont, CA 1974, 1975, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1998

Corporate and Public Commissions

  • Art in Public Places Program, Brea, CA (1987, 1998, 2002) Boone Fetter Associates, Monrovia, CA;

  • Chapman University, Orange, CA;

  • Clairebourne School, Pasadena, CA;

  • Crown Equipment Corporation, New Bremen, OH Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH;

  • Walt Disney Productions, Burbank, CA;

  • Griffin Related Properties, Santa Ana, CA Heidelberg College, Tiffin, OH;

  • Kelsey National Corporation, Los Angeles, CA; 

  • Laguna Beach Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, CA;

  • Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA;

  • The City of Newport Beach, Newport Beach, CA;

  • Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA;

  • Ocean Reef Cultural Arts Center, Key Largo, FL;

  • Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH;

  • Otis Elevator Corporation, NJ;

  • Pacific Theaters, Beverly Hills, CA;

  • Pepsico, Purchase, NY;

  • Planning Research Corporation, McLean, VA;

  • Pomona College, Claremont, CA;

  • Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.;

  • Rockwell International, Costa Mesa, CA;

  • San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, TX;

  • Scope Industries, Santa Monica, CA;

  • Sea World, San Diego, CA;

  • Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, Los Angeles, CA;

  • Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, OH;

  • Toyota Corporation, Chicago, IL;

  • Trinity University, San Antonio, TX;

  • University of Evansville, Evansville, IN.

Bret Price

Bret Price was born in Palo Alto, CA. After graduating from the California Institute of the Arts with an MFA degree in 1975, he began teaching at Chapman University, eventually becoming the chair of the school’s art department. Price works with large swaths of steel. He heats and bends them, making them appear flexible and supple when in fact they are as hard as the rock.

Bret Price never got the memo that you have to act like a grown-up to be a world- famous artist. Bret has an exuberant Robert Redford smile and he marvels at his work with the energy of a child. Raw talent runs in the family: Bret's son Greg is a glass artist at Logan Creative, and Bret's father worked closely with Walt Disney. (Disney trivia: Disneyland's City Hall pays homage to Bret's father, "Buzz" Price, with the ornate window sign "Call on our Numbers Man for the Best Price!"). Bret's work has a well-defined point of view. He works in metal pieces get as large as RVs that he twists and turns into a frozen movement. Effortlessly twisted, giant red beams and spheres shocked out of frozen tracks of lighting make metal look like its as easy to bend as fuzzy pipe cleaners. But better yet, their playfulness and overwhelming scale put a smile on your face as wide as Bret's.

Artist Statement

“Since 1979, I have been building heating chambers around large pieces of steel, applying concentrated, intense heat, then manipulating the material to create a sense of softness.

When the heat is removed, these illusions of flexibility are frozen, and on one level,

the sculpture becomes a documentation of those forces used in the process.

It is my intent that these sculptures communicate a sense of continuance as if each piece is a single frame taken from a film, appearing to be at rest before moving on. This method of making art offers a number of creative options for me as a sculptor.

The variables of heat intensity, size and shape of the raw material produce a wide range of results; from the quiet simplicity of a single pipe bend to the rhythmic complexity that emerges from folding a section of structural steel.

A degree of unpredictability is always present, which tends to tease ones curiosity and lend energy.”

​

~ Bret Price

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