Richard Neidhardt

Richard Neidhardt (1921-2009), was a native of Tennessee. He earned a B.A. from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, an M.F.A. in painting from the University of Florida, and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. Neidhardt served as art director at the University of Florida Press in the early 1950s. He then became an Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Florida from 1954 to 1961. From 1961 until 1966, he was Art Department Chair at Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, TX). Neidhardt was the Director of Art at Angelo State University (San Angelo, TX) for a year, before joining the Austin College faculty in 1967. He served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Art and retired in 1986 as Professor Emeritus. In 1973, he was awarded the Cullen Grant for Research in Egypt, in addition to Richardson Grants for Research to Southern France in 1975 and to Greece in 1982. His sculptures and paintings have been shown in various solo and group exhibitions throughout Texas.

In his art, Neidhardt expressed himself in two different ways. Whereas his paintings are formal and abstract statements with little subject matter, his sculptures came from a side of him keenly aware of the world and its follies. “During World War II, as a pilot flying foreign routes, I became interested in the cultures and arts of Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and India. I then began the study of art as a painter, searching for a kind of purity free from worldly stress and the vulnerable condition of being human,” Neidhardt wrote, “The energy of color’s language, the drawn line’s vitality, and the aesthetics of mathematics appealed to me and became basic to my work.” However, speaking of his sculptures, Neidhardt stated, “They came from a side of me aware of being a fellow inmate of the earth with all of its absurdities, a possible justification for being a part of this great mystery.”

Tulip Man

"Tulip Man", 1987, bronze, 5 1/2 x 2 3/4 x 6 1/4", AP edition of 10

Man Looking at Book

"Man Looking at Book", 1997, bronze, 12 3/4 x 7 x 12", edition 3 of 9

Gothic Man

"Gothic Man", 1987, bronze, 8 x 3 1/2 x 4 1/2", edition of 10

Fortress Man

"Fortress Man", 1987, bronze, 8 1/2 x 3 x 3 3/4", AP edition of 10

Man and Hammer

"Man and Hammer", 1997, bronze, 13 x 8 5/8 x 5 1/2", edition 2 of 6

File Cabinet Man

"File Cabinet Man", 1987, bronze, 8 3/4 x 3 3/4 x 3 1/2", edition 3 of 10

Man with Pump

"Man with Pump", 2000, bronze, 7 x 3 3/4 x 3 3/4", edition 1 of 3

Clock Rider

"Clock Rider", 1987, cast bronze, 15 1/4 x 10 1/2 x 3", AP edition of 10

Man with Drill

"Man with Drill", 1987, bronze, 8 3/16, 2 1/4 x 3 1/2", edition 4 of 10

Man and Dartboard

"Man and Dartboard", 1997, bronze, 9 x 9 x 8 3/8", edition of 6

Woman and Child

"Woman and Child", 2000, bronze, 9 3/8 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2", edition 1 of 6

Man with Telescope

"Man with Telescope", 1992, bronze, 10 5/8 x 3 1/8 x 7 1/4", AP edition of 10

Man Looking Back

"Man Looking Back", 1988, bronze, 4 1/4 x 3 1/4 x 2 1/2", AP edition of 10

Dog and Ladder

"Dog and Ladder", 1994, bronze, 13 1/4 x 4 1/2 x 5 3/4", edition 5 of 6

Man with Dogs Barking

"Man with Dogs Barking", 1987, bronze, 9 x 3 7/8 x 12", edition 2 of 10

Caged Man with Caged Bird

"Caged Man with Caged Bird", 1987, bronze, 9 x 3 3/4 x 6", AP edition of 10

Man with Dog Playing Horn

"Man with Dog Playing Horn", 1988, bronze, 6 1/4 x 4 1/8 x 3 1/2", AP edition of 10

Man with Large Bird

"Man with Large Bird", 1997, bronze, 6 1/4 x 4 5/8 x 14", edition 1 of 6

Man Encircled by Cats

"Man Encircled by Cats", 1991, bronze, 8 1/4 x 17 5/8 x 17", edition 4 of 10

Bicycle Man

"Bicycle Man", 1991, bronze, 5 1/2 x 3 x 6 1/2", AP edition of 10

Golfer

"Golfer", 1989, bronze, 11 1/8 x 3 3/4 x 2 7/8", AP edition of 10

Woman and Child

"Woman and Child", 2000, bronze, 9 3/8 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2", edition 2 of 6

Man and Hammer

"Man and Hammer", 1997, bronze, 13 x 8 5/8 x 5 1/2", edition 3 of 6

Man with Dogs Barking

"man with Dogs Barking", 1987, bronze, 9 x 3 7/8 x 12", AP edition of 10

Bicycle Man

"Bicycle Man", 1991, bronze, 5 1/2 x 3 x 6 1/2", edition 1 of 10

Man with STOP Sign

Man with STOP Sign, 1998, pine wood, 10 x 12 x 7 1/8"

Sold Inventory

Steering Committee

"Steering Committee", 1987, bronze, 4 1/2 x 22 x 32", edition 7 of 10

Man with Incomplete...

"Man with Incomplete Rectangle", 1987, bronze, 9 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 4", AP edition of 10

Man Trying on Heads

"Man Trying on Heads", 1991, bronze, 10 7/8 x 7 x 7 7/8", edition 6 of 10

Fallen Angel

"Fallen Angel", 1987, bronze, 8 1/2 x 5 x 6 1/2", AP edition of 10

Man with Two Cats

"Man with Two Cats", 1987, bronze, 8 1/2 x 2 1/4 x 2 1/2", edition of 10

Man on Bed with Cat

Richard Neidhardt, "Man on Bed with Cat", 1994, bronze, 4 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 10", ed. A/P 4

Man Rowing

Man Rowing, 1995, bronze, 5 x 17 1/2 x 5 3/4", ed. 6/9

Man with Faucet

Man with Faucet, 1991, cast bronze, 19 x 6 1/4 x 10 3/4"

Man Trying On Heads

Man Trying On Heads, 1991, cast bronze, 10 7/8 x 7 x 7 7/8"

Caged Man with Caged Bird

Caged Man with Caged Bird, 1987, bronze, 9 x 4 x 5 1/2", ed. 9/10

Keystone Man

Keystone Man, 1991, bronze, 10 x 6 3/8 x 2 3/4", ed. 2/10

Man on Bed with Cat

Man on Bed with Cat, 1994, bronze, 4 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 10", ed. 4/9

Man Encircled by Cats

Man Encircled by Cats, 1991, bronze, 7 x 12 3/8 x 16 3/4", ed. 5/10

Cat With Bowl

Cat With Bowl, 2003, pine, 2 1/8 x 5 x 2 1/2"

Man With Watering Can

Man With Watering Can, 2000, wood, 9 7/8 x 9 3/4 x 6"

Woman With Two Cats

Woman With Two Cats, 2003, pine, 6 x 5 x 4"

Man with Divining Rod

Man with Divining Rod, 1995, white pine, 9 x 10 1/2 x 5"

Doorway with Two Cats

Doorway with Two Cats, 2002, wood, 7 1/4 x 8 1/4 x 5 1/2"

Man Opening Door

Man Opening Door, 2002, wood, 9 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 7 1/2"

Procession

Procession, 2001, wood, 11 5/8 x 18 3/4 x 5 1/2"

Two Men with Bell

Two Men with Bell, 1996, wood, 33 x 5 x 20 1/2"

Two Men Playing Game

Two Men Playing Game, 2001, wood, 7 3/4 x 10 3/8 x 6 3/8"