ArtSpotlight

Kurt Holyoke
Painter, Teacher

Kurt Holyoke began drawing at a young age and continued to do so throughout his formative years. However, it wasn’t until later in life, while enrolled in Hillsborough Community College working toward a degree in pharmacy, that he found that his true path was to lead to Art. Although Kurt's journey began in an art appreciation class while at HCC, he quickly found himself enrolled in a succession of art studio classes in drawing, painting and sculpture. While at HCC, doors began to open for him as he was awarded grants for his work in drawing.

 

Kurt's work was later to gain further notice as he was granted acceptance into the prestigious University of South Florida’s Honors 2D painting program. Throughout his career, Kurt considers himself to be honored to have been taught by the likes of Steven Holm, Theo Wujcik, and Mernet Larsen...all of which are not only Masters within the profession but also have grown to become friends.

 

After completion of his undergraduate degree, and still very much motivated to explore the world of art, Kurt applied to and was accepted into the graduate program at California State University. During pursuit of his Master’s degree, Kurt continued to build his portfolio and was accepted into a number of shows. Following completion of his graduate degree at Cal State, he returned to USF to acquire an additional eighteen grad hours in art studio. Upon his return, and with the support and guidance of Theo Wujcik, Richard Olinger, and Elisabeth Condon, Kurt worked to push his boundaries and work further and used the opportunity to expand his knowledge of silverpoint / metalpoint drawing and to explore the many possibilities that lie ahead for him in painting.

 

Kurt currently teaches at the college level in his hometown of Tampa, Florida, maintains an active prospectus of shows, and continues to work towards an oeuvre comprised of meaningful and progressive works. His work has been selected to show by the likes of Richard Vine, editor
of Art in America magazine, and William Zimmer, longstanding Art critic for the New York Times. Kurt views the arts, all art forms, as engaging, active, and empowering experiential communicative opportunities that incite introspection, reflection, and exchange.

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