About the artist:

Joseph Vance's primary field of interest is the big game animals of the world. He has conducted six major study expeditions to Africa and Asia since 1970 for first-hand field experience and research. Countries include: Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, South-West Africa, Ceylon and India. Mr. Vance is presently serving as an officer and member of the Executive Board of the Society of Animal Artists. His work was first publicly exhibit in 1967 in the West End Community Council show in New York City, where he took 2nd place in the Graphic Arts division. Media used by Vance varies from acrylic on board, to pencil and bronze sculpture. It was during the 1960s when Andrew Wyeth, James Audubon, and other realists work was popularly accepted in major museums that the rediscovery of Ameri- can figurative art became an acceptable movement in art. The resurgence of real- ism in America was led by a dynamic group of African, western and wildlife painters. The limited edition prints pioneered by these artists brought realistic art info the homes of many Americans. There is no doubt that realism, especially wildlife, is having a most successtul exposure throughout America. Today as art and science merge and with the relativity of the objects portrayed taking on more universal meaning, we find in Joe Vance's portraits of African wildlife the reflections of the artistic philosophies and concerns for this age; that of ecology, the environment and preservation. Joseph Vance's sentiments are ex- pressed in the following manner, "My work is an attempt to realistically portray the large mammals in their natural habitat. I try to capture not only the anatomical defini- tions of the animal, but the grace and beauty, dignity and majesty inherent in each wild species." "For myself, to know a particular species I must see it and study it in its natural element. Nowhere else is the character of the animal so clearly revealed." "Animal art is probably the oldest re- corded form of art. I have been interested in it ever since I can remember. Its recent popularity may be a result of an awareness that the wild places and wild creatures are fast disappearing." [)espite prevailing fashions a few great artists of every age, working in their partic- ular field of specialty, have produced time- less portraits of animals. Today with space technology and freeways, it is helpful to have artists re-directing our interest to the fact that we share this good green planet with other life forms. Collective Exhibitions 1971 Manufacturers Hanover Trust, New York City 1972 Grand Central Art Galleries, New York City 1973 Grand Central Art Galleries, New York City Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, Vermont 1974 Grand Central Art Galleries, New York City 1975 Grand Central Art Galleries, New York City 1976 Grand Central Art Galleries, New York City The Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, Columbus, Ohio 1978 Sportsman's Edge Gallery, New York City Owens Gallery, Oklahoma City 1979 Sportsman's Edge Gallery, New York City Salmagundi Club, New York City Other Exhibitions Society of Animal Artists, New York City Crossroads of Sport, New York City The Tryon Gallery, Nairobi The Collector's Cabinet, New York City Hardy's Gallery, Mexico City.