"What does it mean to be human at a time when we're struggling with the nature of our humanity, when the world as we thought we knew it is fluid and not fixed? How do we make sense of a world that subjects us daily to a barrage of different technologically processed versions of reality? How do we remain human even within inhuman constraints?" These questions embrace the essence of the lifelong quest of Kermit Oliver, one of Texas's most mysterious artists. In this monumental biography, art historian Susie Kalil surveys the life and work of an artist who is, at once, among the most internationally celebrated and least understood artists of our day. Growing up in Refugio, Texas, immersed in the natural world of the South Texas brush country, and raised in the culture of the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, Kermit Oliver possessed a sense, from the time of his earliest memories-that life is full of miracles; that all creation possesses a luminous force; that we are born to journey this world alone and seek belonging and meaning along the way. Containing a stunning assembly of full-color paintings, drawings, and works on paper, this book presents readers with the rich panorama of the artist's oeuvre, spanning the decades from his college education through the creation of his latest works. A survey of Oliver's original scarf designs, commissioned by the venerable Parisian luxury fashion house Hermes, offers an additional glimpse of Oliver's international importance. Kermit Oliver: Enduring Spirit stands as the definitive biography of a Texas artist whose imaginative vision will continue to challenge art enthusiasts for years to come.
