Marc D'Estout

Irrational Objects

Constructs 2.0

Constructs

Marc D’Estout

ARTIST STATEMENT

The work of Marc D’Estout engages subconscious surrealist imagery, social and cultural memes, and obscure formal connections. Formed in succinct visual dialogues, his minimalist sculptures and drawings often subtly reveal a dark humor or uncanny associations, addressing lurking fears, personal (mis)communication, social nuance, or pop humor.

D’Estout has a deep connection with materials and process, predominantly the challenging skills of hand shaping and fabricating sheet metal forms, which are then finished with carefully crafted surfaces. His style of metalsmithing or metal-shaping falls somewhere between the conventions of the fine art metalsmith and those of artisans who hand-form custom car bodies. His life-long love of automobiles is integral to his visual language and his studio practice, although there is a world of difference in objective and approach in his work. The application of D’Estout’s vision through these highly disciplined craft-based processes is unique in the context of contemporary art.

1.18.15

BIO

Marc D’Estout, MFA degree from San Jose State University, is a multi-disciplinary artist, curator, art director and designer.

D’Estout is currently represented by Jack Fischer Gallery in San Francisco. In addition to JFG, his work has been exhibited at numerous venues including: Aqua Miami, University of Hawai’i Art Gallery; Red Gallery at Savannah College of Art and Design; Houston Center for Contemporary Craft; SFMOMA Artist’s Gallery; Tercera Gallery, Palo Alto, CA; San Jose Museum of Art; de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University; Bedford Gallery/Dean Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek; San Jose ICA; and the Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz – as well as furniture and design galleries such and LIMN and Coup d’Etat in San Francisco and Gallery of Functional Art in Santa Monica.

D’Estout’s pieces have been published in numerous magazines and catalogs. His is a featured artist in the Juxtapoz’ Car Culture book, and his work was used for the cover image and featured in the significant Graphis book Products by Design. The Thompson Gallery at San Jose State University produced a 48 page monograph chronicling 2-1/2 decades of Marc D’Estout’s art and design work.

In addition to his 3D studio work, D’Estout has maintained an active design and teaching career. He most recently held the position of curator for the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco. For ten years he served as Director for Art and Design for UCSC Extension. Prior to that he held positions as contemporary art curator and exhibit designer for both the Monterey Museum of Art and the Triton Museum of Art. He has also taught a variety of art and design courses at San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, various community colleges in the Bay Area, and Anderson Ranch in Colorado. D’Estout has also served as a juror and guest curator for numerous galleries and arts organizations throughout California.

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts Degree, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Bachelor of Arts degree, California State University at Hayward

HONORS

Rydell Fellowship recipient 2020, Silicon Valley Creates Grant recipient 2020
Silicon Valley Creates Grant recipient 2020

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2022
Rydell Visual Arts Fellows, Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA
2020
Slumber With A Key, Jack Fischer Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2019
Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You, Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel, CA
2018
- Auto-Didactic – The Juxtapoz School, The Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, CA
- Marc D’Estout and Silvia Poloto, Cryptic Intersection, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA
- I.M.A.G.I.N.E. Peace Now, (The Gun Show) Radius Gallery, Santa Cruz CA
2017
- Constructs 2.0, Marc D’Estout and Jay Kelly, Jack Fischer Gallery, San Francisco CA
- Folie à Deux – Beverly Rayner & Marc D’Estout, Minnesota Sreet Project, San Francisco, CA
2016
- Blade Runner: ReTooling the Saw as Art, Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA
- The Butterfly Effect: Art in the 1970s California, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto , CA
- Marc D’Estout: Open Investigation, NUMU (New Museum Los Gatos, Los Gatos, CA
2015
- Freehand, Pajaro Valley Gallery, Watsonville, CA
- Constructs, Marc D’Estout and Jay Kelly, Jack Fischer Gallery, San Francisco CA
2014
Toriawase, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
The Skull Show, Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA
2013
Artik Art and Architecture Annual, Artik, San Jose, CA
A Celebration of 100 Years of the Department of Art SJSU, at San Jose City College Art Gallery
ICA Live Auction Exhibition, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
2012
Art MRKT San Francisco, Jack Fischer Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2010
Aqua 10, Miami, Jack Fischer Gallery, Miami, FL
2009
Full Deck: A short History of Skate Art, Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA
Stars 2009, Invitational, Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA
2008
New West Coast Design – Contemporary Objects, SFMC+D, San Francisco, CA
2006-2008
9th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition, University of Hawai’i, traveling exhibit to sixteen venues nationwide, (catalog)
2006
New Moves: Fast Forward & Instant Replay, LIMN Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005
Monterey Museum of Art Biennial, Grand Prize Award, Monterey, CA
Yuma Art Symposium Invited Artists Exhibit, Yuma Art Museum, Yuma, AZ
Curv-iture, (revised) The Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory, NC and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston TX
2004
Furniture As Art, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Curv-iture, Furniture Society, Savannah College of Art and Design; Red Gallery, Savannah Georgia, (traveling exhibit to other venues, catalog)
Mythical Objects, Nine California Artists, LIMN Gallery, San Francisco
2003-2004
imme Shelter, Marc D’Estout and Wendy Maruyama, Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz
2003
Domestic Objects, Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery, School of Art and Design (Solo show)
San Jose State University (catalog)
2000
Stars IX, Invitational, Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA
1999
Airborn, Monterey Airport Gallery, Monterey, CA
1998
Furniture Society Exhibit, California College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco, CA
1997
Silicon Planet Chair Exhibit, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
1996
Bay Area Portfolio: Design @ Large, Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA
California Designers & Abet Laminati, (15th anniversary exhibit) LIMN Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Please Be Seated, The Pope Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA
1992
Black & White: Contemporary Furniture Design, Tercera Gallery, Los Gatos, CA
Columbus: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Art Gallery, University of Santa Clara, CA
LIMN Artists: Northern California Furniture, LIMN Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1991
Chairs: Fun vs. Function, Viewpoint Gallery, San Mateo, CA
1990
Metals: Sculpture and Function, Virginia Breier Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Life Support, presented by LIMN at No. One Market Plaza, San Francisco, CA
1989
Illuminations, Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica, CA
The Chair as Art, Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica, CA
The Chair Show, Virginia Breier Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Contemporary American Wood, Banaker Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
1988
A Feast of Function, Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica, CA
A Mid-Summer’s Art Dream, Viewpoint Gallery, Carmel, CA
Art Stars, Agnes Bourne Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1983
California Art on the Road, Traveling Exhibition through The Phillip Morris Co. (catalog)
1982
Invitational Alumni Show, California State University, Hayward, CA (catalog)
1980
Food Grows at Night, Drawings and Installation, de Saisset Art Museum, University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA (Solo Show)
Group Show (four artists), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rental Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Invitational Exhibition, Hayward Area Festival of the Arts, Hayward, CA
1979
Attitudes/Sensibilities, Gavilan College Art Gallery, Gilroy, CA
Invitational Exhibition, Hayward Area Festival of the Arts, Hayward, CA
1978
Four White Walls, Please, Installation, Main Gallery, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA (Solo Show)
1977
52nd Annual Crocker Kingsley Exhibition, E. B. Crocker Gallery, Sacramento, CA (juried)
Group Show (seven artists), Diablo Valley College Art Gallery, Pleasant Hill, CA
Faculty Exhibition, Montalvo Center for the Arts, Saratoga, CA
A Personal Involvement with Flight, Palo Alto Cultural Center, Palo Alto CA (Solo Show)
Invitational Exhibition, Hayward Area Festival of the Arts, Hayward, CA
22nd Annual All-California Juried Exhibition, Laguna Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, CA
Invitational Drawing Exhibition (Kenya Fish Show), Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
Faculty Exhibition, Montalvo Center for the Arts, Saratoga, CA
Small Sculptures, Invitational, Cypress College Art Gallery, Cypress, CA (catalog)
1975
Palo Alto Cultural Center Annual Art Competition, Palo Alto, CA
Invitational Exhibition, Hayward Area Festival of the Arts, Hayward, CA
California State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, Sacramento, CA (juried)
Auto Graphics, Golden West College, Los Angeles, CA
Faculty Exhibition, Montalvo Center for the Arts, Saratoga, CA
1974
Palo Alto Cultural Center Annual Art Competition, Palo Alto, CA
44th Annual State-Wide Art Competition, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA (Award)
Faculty Show, Ohlone College Art Center, Olive Hyde Art Center, Fremont, CA
1973
Sculpture, Invitational, Olive Hyde Art Center, Fremont, CA
Olive Hyde Art Center Faculty Show, Olive Hyde Art Center, Fremont, CA

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2022
Rydell Visual Arts Fellows exhibition catalog, Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, Glenn Adamson essay, 2022, pp 22-37
2019
Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You, Jan Wurm, Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, pp 12,13
2017
Square Cylinder, Marc D’Estout & Jay Kelly @ Jack Fischer, by David Roth, posted Nov. 9, 2017
2016
- San Jose Metro, Open to Interpretation, Marc D’Estout’s NUMU Exhibition is Meant to Spark Imagination, by Gary Singh, January 27, 2016, p. 36.
2015
- Art LTD. magazine review: Marc D’Estout and Jay Kelly, Constructs, Jack Fischer Gallery, by Elwyn Palmerton, May /June 2015, p. 27.
- San Francisco Chronicle/S.F. Gate, review: A Knack for Disquieting “Intrusions”, by Kenneth Baker, p. E3.
2014
S.F. Gate review: Reductive Art Exhibition is Expansive for Mind, by Jillian Sullivan, January 30, 2014
2013
Creativity, Change and Commitment: A Celebration of 100 Years of the Department of Art. Thompson Gallery publication, various authors; San Jose State University pp. 179, plate 3.12, pp 188
2009
Juxtapoz, Car Culture, Kevin Thomson, Ginko Press Berkeley, CA; pp. 4, 74-81, 211, 214
2006
9th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition, Tom Klobe, University of Hawai’i Dept. of Art; p. 27
2005
Furniture Makers Exploring Digital Technologies, John Kelsey ed., The Furniture Society; p. 78
2004
Curv-iture, Studio Furniture Celebrates the Curve, Suzanne Baizerman, Ph.D., Charlotte Brown, Ph.D., Dennis Fitzgerald, Andrew H, Glasgow, The Furniture Society 2004
2003
Marc D’Estout, Domestic Objects, Jo Farb Hernandez, Meridith Tromble, San Jose State University, 2003
Artweek, review “Tracy Snelling, Marc D’Estout and Wendy Maruyama,” by Debra Koppman, October, 2003; p. 6
1998
Northern California Home & Design, “High Flying Design,” article by Rebecca Robinson, March/April 1998; pp. 43-46
1997
Designers Illustrated Magazine, “Sitting Pretty,” article by Mark Macnamara, July 1997; pp. 34,35 (also p. 12)
1994
Graphis Products by Design 1, Gianfranco Mantegna, Editor, Graphis Press Corporation, 1994; Cover and pp. 67, 167, 168
1991
Recycled as Restaurants, “Remillards” (Restaurant), Design for Cocktail Lounge, by Virginia Croft, Whitney Library of Design, Watson-Guptill Publications, 1991; pp. 45, 46
1990
San Francisco Chronicle, “Furniture Doubles as Works of Art,” February 1, 1990; p. B5
1989
Home Magazine, “Good Things Come to Light,” December 1989; p. 32
1988
Monterey Life Magazine, “Contemporary American Master Craftsmen,” September 1988; pp. 64, 65
Northern California Home and Garden, “Non” Lamp article, November, 1988; p. 18
Interior Design Magazine, photo/caption, “COMPAC: Art as Furniture Exhibit,” August, 1988; p. 45
San Francisco Examiner, Image Magazine, “Chair and Chair Alike,” article by Mandy Behbehani, September 18, 1988; pp. 5, 6
1980
Artweek, photo/caption, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rental Gallery, group exhibition, September 27, 1980; p. 6
San Jose Mercury News, review of solo exhibition, “Food Grows at Night,” by Dorothy Burkhart, February 21, 1980; p. D1
1978
Guitar Player Magazine, Sculpture commission/award design, December 1978; p. 4
1977
San Francisco Chronicle, review of San Francisco Art Commission show, “A Group Show Without Gimmicks,” by Thomas Albright, April 12, 1977; p. 40
1976
Artweek, review of solo exhibition, “Marc D’Estout: Themes of Flight,” by Salli Robertson, December 18, 1976; pp. 5, 6
1975
Artweek, review of California State Fair Exhibit, by Fred Ball, September 6, 1975; p.

CREDENTIALS

California Community College Instructor Credential: Fine and Applied Art
Standard Designated Teaching Credential, Adult Education: Art

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2012-2014
Curator, Museum of Craft and Design , San Francisco, CA
2005-2012
Artist, Designer and Creative Consultant at Marc D’Estout Design, Santa Cruz, CA
2012
Art Workshop Instructor, Anderson Ranch, Snowmass CO
2011
Acting Director, Thompson Art Gallery / Art Instructor, Careers in Art (Art 01), San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2007-2009
Art Director and Contributing Editor, Hop Up Publications, Riverside, CA
2005
Art Instructor, Sculpture (Beginning and Advanced), University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA
Acting Director, Thompson Art Gallery / Art Instructor, Careers in Art (Art 101); San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
1994-2005
Director, Art & Design, University of California, Santa Cruz, Extension, Santa Cruz, CA
Service to UCSC Extension (Beyond A&D directorial duties)
2001-2004
Member, UCSC Campus Art Museum task force
2002-2003
Member, Membership Task Force, Coordinator for Silicon Valley Facilities Remodel
2001-2002
Member, UNEX Facilities Consolidation Task Force, Member, UNEX Protocol and Procedure Task force
2000
Moderator / Facilitator, UNEX Distance Learning Forum, Cupertino, CA
1991
Curator, The Expressive Sculpture of Alvin Light, Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA
1989
Curator, Functional Sculpture / Six Furniture Makers, Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1986-1994
Art Director / Curator, Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art, Monterey, CA
1978-1986
Assistant Director / Curator, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
1983-1986
Art Instructor, Drawing, Figure Drawing, Mission College, Santa Clara, CA
1984-1985
Art Instructor, Graphic Design, University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA
1981-1983
Art Instructor, Design, Chabot Community College, Livermore, CA
1975-1978
Art Instructor, Leaded Glass, Los Gatos Adult Education, Los Gatos, CA
1978
Art Instructor, Drawing, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
1975-1978
Art Instructor, Drawing, Figure Drawing, Montalvo Center for the Arts, Saratoga, CA
1973-1975
Gallery Coordinator / Art Instructor, Olive Hyde Art Center, City of Fremont, CA
1973-Present
Practicing Artist/Designer

PROFESSIONAL RELATIONS / COMMUNITY SERVICES / LECTURES

2017
SFMOMA, Invited artist audio tour commentator for 2017 collections exhibit, San Francisco, CA
2014
Demo/workshops, Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA
2013
American Craft Council Juror, ACC Show , San Francisco, CA
2011
Selection Panelist, Djerassi Resident Artists Program, Woodside, CA
2006
Juror, Eduardo Carrillo Annual Award for Painting, San Jose Museum of Art, CA
2005
Presenter / Lecturer, Furniture Society Conference, San Diego CA
2004
Guest Lecturer, Marc D’Estout, Domestic Objects, San Diego State University, CA
Juror, California Design 2004, San Francisco Design Center, San Francisco, CA
Panelist, Embracing the Media, Baulines Craft Guild, San Francisco, CA
Awards Presenter, Gail Rich Awards, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Santa Cruz
2003
Guest Lecturer, Marc D’Estout, Domestic Objects, Art Department, San Jose State, CA
Guest Lecturer, Gimme Shelter, Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA
2000
Juror, San Luis Obispo Art Center Annual Craft Exhibit, San Luis Obispo CA
1999
Santa Cruz County Cultural Arts task force member, assessment of arts facilities in county
Guest Lecturer, Gallery Management, UCSC Art Department, Santa Cruz, CA
1997
Juror, Annual National Photography Exhibition, Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, CA
1996
Juror, Annual Statewide Exhibit, Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Carmel, CA
1995
Juror, Images and Objects, ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1994
Selection Panelist, Public Art Program, San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, San Jose, CA
Lecturer, Contemporary Art History, University of California Extension, Santa Cruz, CA
1993
Juror, AFAS Exhibition, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Pebble Beach, CA
1992
Juror, KTEH Annual Art Auction and Exhibition, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA
1991
Juror, Monterey Peninsula College Art Department Exhibition, Monterey, CA
Juror, Statewide Art Exhibition, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA
1990
Selection Panelist, Art in Public Places, Sacramento Arts Commission, Sacramento, CA
1987-1989
Lecturer/Guest Lecturer, Various Workshops on Design and Photography through University of California Extension, Santa Cruz, CA
1988
Guest Speaker, The Avant Garde Attitude, Carmel Art Association, Carmel, CA
Juror, 22nd Annual Art Exhibition, City of Seaside, CA
1986
Juror, Saratoga Rotary Art Exhibition, Saratoga, CA
Juror, Monterey Peninsula College Art Department Exhibition, Monterey, CA
1985
Freelance Curator, Narciso Photographs, Art Plaza, Sapporo, Japan
1983
Juror, Redwood Art Association Annual Exhibition, Eureka, CA
1981-1983
Board of Directors, San Jose State University Art Alumni Association, San Jose, CA
1981
Juror, Santa Clara University Art Department Annual Exhibition, Santa Clara, CA
Juror, City of Sunnyvale Municipal Art Gallery Annual Art Competition, Sunnyvale, CA
1977
Juror, Los Gatos Art Association Annual Art Competition, Los Gatos, CA
Guest Speaker, Los Gatos Art Association: Contemporary Trends in Leaded Glass, Los Gatos, CA