Rhett E. Murray was born in 1968 in Springville, Utah. He spent most of his early life like any other child, but at an early age Rhett showed a skill in drawing, filling countless sketchbooks with his imaginary world. He graduated from Springville High School in 1986, then graduated from Snow College with a A.S. degree in Architecture.

Following a two-year religious mission in the country of Chile for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he graduated from Southern Utah University with a B.A. in Illustration and Education. Rhett married Holly Atkinson of Henderson, Nevada, then moved to Anchorage, Alaska to teach high school. Rhett returned to SUU in the summers to finish a Master’s degree in Fine Art and Education.

After finishing school and working for six years at Bartlett High School, Rhett felt the need to return to creating his own art. Moving to Poulsbo, Washington, he took an accelerated art program at Northwest College of Art. After graduating From NCA with a B.F.A., he had a strong desire to leave an artistic legacy that others might enjoy. Moving from Poulsbo to Henderson, Rhett continues to teach students at Jack Lund Schofield Middle School in Las Vegas.

Rhett is a member of the Henderson Artist Association and continues to teach adult classes. He still studies the great artists from the past to gain strength in his work, such as the portraits and illustrations of Frederick Carl Frieseke, John Singer Sargent, and John Waterhouse, and he admires the problem-solving illustrators such as Maxfield Parrish, Mead Schaeffer, R. H. Ives Gammell and Howard Pyle.

Rhett continues to grow as not only as a fine portrait artist but as an illustrator as well.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

 I understand that art is a way of communicating to people my soul, and the love I have for painting and drawing.  I do not want to do anything else.  I have been developing my style and ability since the day of my birth; this labor I will continue until the day of my death. I love the human form, it continues to be an endless source of subject material and themes. 

In addition, I find the figure to be an object of beauty and serenity.  I am inspired to create something that is eternal.  I want the viewer to experience something uplifting and worthwhile, or tormenting and dreadful. I want the viewer to be moved and impressed through this communication from within.

EDUCATION

Northwest College of Art, Poulsbo, WA. Graduation  07 · 16 · 02
B.F.A. in Visual Communication, Major in Fine Art

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah. 05 · 08 · 99
M.Ed. Major in Secondary Education with an  emphasis in Art and Illustration

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah 12 · 10 · 93
B.A., Major in: Fine Art, Minors in Secondary Education, and Spanish

Snow College, Ephraim, Utah 12 · 10 · 88.
A.S. Major in Business & Technology, Building Construction Technology

EXHIBITIONS IN FINE ART

Featured Artist, Reflection Bay Rotunda Room, Lake Las Vegas, 2006
Reflection Bay Rotunda Room, Lake Las Vegas, 2003 - 2006
Old Town Gallery Henderson, 2003 - 2006
Blue Stone Gallery,  Lake Las Vegas ,  2003
Springville Museum of Art Juried Show 2003
Historical Courthouse Gallery Juried Show 2003
Henderson Old Town Gallery Juried Show 2003
City Limits 2002 Common portrait series
Amy Bernett Gallery 2002 , Washington and Figurative works
U.S. Navy 2001, A number of retirement commissions and portraits
Potlatch Gallery 2001 - 2002  Resident Artist
Poulsbo Art Walk 2001, Mythology Series
Cilla’s Salon 2001, oil paintings, charcoal and conté drawings figurative series
Deb’s Gallery 2001,  Washington  Landscape Series
Kitsap Regional Library 2000  Three oil paintings two charcoal figurative series
Freeman Art Gallery Juried Show 2000 - 2001 - 2002 Shakespeare theme series
One man Show Denali Art and Frame 1994 Alaska landscape series
Braithwaite Art Gallery 1993 Senior Show, figurative series
Springville Museum of Art Juried Show 1986

WORK  EXPERIENCE

REMARTWORK, Henderson NV  1990 - Present

Internship  TACOMA ART MUSEUM 2002 Art business, established clientele. Fine Art and Commissions in Oil/Charcoal, Portrait, landscapes and illustrations; Museum quality artwork.

Illustrator for Spring Creek Books 2000 - Present

ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE ARTS FIELD

Best of Show Freeman Art Gallery  Juried Show 11/09/01
Award Winner, National Alliance for Excellence 09/18/01
KCFCU Educational Grant 05/25/01
Barbara Krell Memorial Scholarship Viking Festival Juried Competition 01/29/01 and 01/29/02
Honorable Mention, Freeman Art Gallery  Juried Show  11/09/00
First place, Denali art Competition 11/20/95
Honorable Mention, Braithwaite 06/04/93
Semifinalist, National Pride of Peace of Argentina 06/03/90
Mentionable Artist, Chiloe, Chile National Art Competition 11/15/89

MEMBERSHIPS

Portrait Society of America
Henderson Art Association
http://www.artistsinhenderson.com/Homex.html
Contemporary Arts Collective