February Exhibit at the Geary Gallery in Darien, CT

Jan. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Through February, the Geary Gallery of Darien proudly presents “Richard Pionk: Master Pastelist,” a celebration of the work of the late New York City pastel and oil painter, Richard Pionk. Pionk’s exhibit runs February 1–28 at the Geary Gallery, located at 576 Boston Post Road in Darien.

Featured Artist, February:
Richard Pionk

Richard Cletus Pionk (April 26, 1936 - June 5, 2007)
was born in Moose Lake, Minnesota, but later lived,
worked, taught, and painted in New York City. Best
known for his still lifes, portraits and interior scenes in
oils and pastels, Pionk learned much about classical
still life painting by spending hours in his beloved
museums, including the Brooklyn Museum and other
New York museums, as well as the École du Louvre in
Paris. Pionk studied the works of Jean-Baptiste-
Siméon Chardin, Antoine Vollon, and Henri Fantin-
Latour, in particular.

He also studied with Daniel Green and Sidney E.
Dickinson at the Art Students League of New York. He
later taught at the Art Students League of New York
and the Pastel Society School, National Arts Club, New
York. He was also the longest running president of the Salmagundi Club.

Pionk has won more than 100 awards from the Pastel Society of America, Audubon Artists, National Arts Club, and numerous other professional associations. In 1984, he was named Master Pastelist by the Pastel Society of America, and in 1997 was inducted into the Pastel Hall of Fame. In 1994, his work was included in the Taiwanese exhibit, "Contemporary Pastel Artists."

Pionk has been published in numerous books and magazines, including Creative
Painting with Pastel by Carole Katchen, and Basic Still Life Painting, and Artist’s Magazine, April 1988 and 1993. Recently, his work has been exhibited at the Luminous Gallery in Taichung, Taiwan and as part of Still Life Painters of the 20th Century, Hermitage Museum, in Norfolk, VA.

Pionk held memberships in Salmagundi Club, Art Students League, Pastel Society of America – Trustee, Allied Artists of America – Board of Directors, Hudson Valley Art Association, Knickerbocker Art Association, Artist Fellowship – Trustee, National Arts Club, Audubon Artists – Trustee, American Artists Professional League, and Dutch Treat Club.

To view Richard Pionk’s work, visit our online
gallery: http://www.gearygallery.com/?artists=richard-pionk

The Richard Pionk exhibit runs from February 1–28, and his paintings are available for acquisition. All are welcome, and admission is free.

Geary Gallery is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,and is located at 576 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT 06820. For more information, call (203) 655-6633 or visit www.gearygallery.com.