About
Frank Olt’s abstract work form a unique hybrid of ceramics and painting in the New York school tradition. Forged in his signature style, they combine ceramic media and glazing components with mixed media; rich hues from encaustics bring together the small not-quite-symmetrical abstract pieces in a way that sometimes recalls the color field artists, though often suggesting landscape.
Although a practitioner of more traditional ceramic techniques, many of Olt’s works fuse painted canvases and ceramics; this contrasts the glossy surfaces of glazed pottery with the elegant linen painted using encaustic (heated beeswax and colored pigment that cools and affixes to the canvas). Known for this innovative harmonizing of materials as well as painterly use of interesting glazes, his recent work also continues experimentation in releasing discernible subjects from the layered elements; machines as well as horizons, suns, and cloud forms.
Frank Olt is an artist and professor at Long Island University whose studio practice focuses on ceramics and painting. He is a former artist-in- residence at MoMA P.S.1. He studied with Bauhaus artist Rose Krebs. Olt exhibited and has collectors nationally and internationally. His commissions include all ceramic art at the 23rd & Ely subway station through the NYC Arts for Transit program and Bellevue Hospital. His work was exhibited recently in a one-person show in the Contemporary Gallery at Nassau County Museum of Art.
EXHIBITIONS Solo Exhibitions
“Frank Olt New and Recent Works: ceramics and paintings,” Space 776, New York, NY, March 26 – April 25, 2021.
“Frank Olt and Franklin Hill-Perrell,” Tria Gallery, New York, NY, June 3-28, 2014.
“Frank Olt Recent Work,” Drury and Grosvenor Center for the Arts, St. George’s School, Middletown, RI, September-October, 2013.
“Frank Olt: New Works,” KIPS Gallery, New York, NY, October, 2012 (two- person show).
“Frank Olt: New Paintings,” Salamatina Gallery, Manhasset, NY, February- March, 2010 (Catalog).
“Dialogue: Sculpture by Alain Kirili/Painting by Frank Olt,” Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn, NY, June-September, 2009 (two-person exhibition with Alain Kirili).
“Frank Olt,” Tria Gallery, New York, NY, April, 2009.
“Frank Olt: Recent Work,” Lohin Geduld Gallery, New York, NY, February 12 – March 14, 2009 (two-person exhibition with Yvonne Thomas).
“New and Recent Works,” Anderson Gallery, Locust Valley, NY, April, 2007.
“Recent Work,” Gallery Maru Sankaku Shikaku, Kyoto, Japan, May, 2006.
“Frank Olt,” Dillon Gallery, Oyster Bay, NY, February, 2005.
“Frank Olt New Work,” Great Neck Arts Center, Great Neck, NY, January- March, 2005 “New Work,” Gallery Maru Sankaku Shikaku, Kyoto, Japan, July, 2004.
“Open Studio,” 450 W. 15th Street, New York, NY, November, 2001.
“New & Recent Work,” Dolan Gallery, Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY November- December, 1999.
“Solo Exhibition,” Hillwood Museum, Brookville, NY, August-September, 1987. (Catalog)
Group Exhibitions
“The Color Yellow,” Glen Hansen Studio, Southold, NY, April 2, 2022. “Doors Opening,” mtn space, Lake Worth Beach, FL, January 19, 2021.
“Locally Sourced, Collecting Long Island Artists,” Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY, December 3, 2019-March 15, 2020.
“The Seasons,” Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn, NY, November 16, 2019 – March 1, 2020.
“Come Together Right Now,” Point O’Woods Arts Association, Point O’Woods, NY, August 9 – 11, 2019.
“Master Class: COLOR,” The Manes Center, Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn, NY, September 2018-January, 2019.
“Linden Hill/After Life,” Bushwick Open Studio Project, Brooklyn, NY, September, 2018. “KERAMOS 2,” Space 776, Brooklyn, NY, August, 2018.
“Put Yourself Out There,” Point O’Woods Arts Association, Point O’Woods, NY, August 11-13, 2017.
“Land and See,” Atrium Art Gallery, Westhampton Beach, NY, May, 2017.
“Lenka Clayton Project,” The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, PA, March, 2017.
“Beach Memories,” Point O’Woods Arts Association, Point O’Woods, NY, August 12-14, 2016.
“Feast for the Eyes,” curated by Franklin Hill Perrell, Nassau County Museum, Roslyn, NY, July-November, 2016.
“Keramos,” Space 776, Brooklyn, NY, November, 2014.
“Tria Summer Cocktail,” Tria Gallery, New York, NY, July 17 – September 17, 2014.
“Lost and Found,” Point O’Woods Arts Association, Point O’Woods, NY, August 15-17, 2014.
“The World is Not Enough,” Salamatina Gallery at ArtHamptons 2014, Bridgehampton, NY, July 10-13, 2014.
“Art Day @ Paramount Bay,” in connection with Art Basel, Miami, FL, December, 2013. “L.I. Connection II,” ARPNY, bcs Gallery, Long Island City, NY, September, 2013.
Kips Gallery @ Red Dot Miami, Miami, FL, December, 2012.
“The Artist in Place: The First Ten Years of MoMA PS1,” Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building, MoMA, New York, NY, January, 2012.
“Absorbed By Color, Art in the 20th Century,” The Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY, August – December, 2012. (Brochure)
“The Colors of Summer,” Point O’Woods Arts Association, Point O’Woods, NY, August 10-12, 2012.
“Matters of the heART,” curated by Edward Batcheller, American Heart Association @ Ferrari-Maserati of Long Island, Plainview, NY, June, 2012.
Exchange Exhibition, May, 2012
-Sungshin Women’s University, S101 Gallery, Seoul, Korea. -Honam University, Himec Gallery, Gwangju, Korea. -Keimyung University, Gukje Art Museum, Daegu, Korea. -University of Ulsan, Art Space UOU, Ulsan, Korea.
The 8th GIAF (GwangHwaMun International Art Festival), Seoul, Korea, April, 2012. (Catalog)
Group Show, Lynda Anderson Gallery, Americana, Manhasset, NY, December 2011 – March 2012.
“Faculty Show,” Hillwood Museum, Brookville, NY, December, 2011.
“Ul San University & Long Island University Exchange Exhibition,” Hutchins Gallery, Brookville, NY, December, 2011.
“Woodfire,” Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, December, 2011.
“Ripped: The Allure of Collage,” The Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY, October 2011-January, 2012.
“Rotation: A Selection of Gallery Artists,” Lohin-Geduld Gallery, New York, NY, July-August, 2011.
“The Ties That Bind,” The Second Avenue Firehouse Gallery, Bay Shore, NY, July-September, 2011.
“Ray Johnson and a Book About Death,” S.A.L. Gallery, Long Island University, Greenvale, NY, Oct. 31-Nov.5, 2010.
“Imprints,” Point O’Woods Arts Association, Point O’Woods, NY, August 6-8, 2010.
“Inspiring Spaces: 25 Years of MTA Arts for Transit,” New York Transit Museum, New York, NY, June 2010-March 2011.
“The Heckscher at 90: Then and Now,” The Heckscher of Art, Huntington, NY, May-July 2010.
“Spatial Play,” The International Arts Movement, New York, NY, May–June 2010.
“Selections From the Permanent Collection,” The Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY, April, 2010.
“Art For Haiti,” Lohin Geduld Gallery, New York, NY, March 25-27, 2010.
“Relationships,” the Power of Space Gallery at Heatley Studio, Sag Harbor, NY, October, 2009.
“Drawing Atlas,” Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Lancaster, PA, Current/Ongoing www.drawingatlas.com. (Catalog).
Affordable Art Fair (Tria Gallery), New York City, NY, May, 2009.
“Circle of Friends,” Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, NY, May, 2009.
“Abstract Paintings,” Lynda Anderson Gallery, April-May 2009.
Group Show, Grand Bohemian Gallery, Savannah, GA, October, 2007.
“Artists Choose Artists,” POW Arts Association, Fire Island, NY, August 2007.
“Along the Way: MTA Arts for Transit,” UBS Art Gallery, New York, NY, June-September, 2005.
“Made of Clay,” Omni Gallery, Uniondale, NY, May-June, 2007.
“Size Matters,” Gale Gates Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, September-December, 1999. “Portrait Show,” Jorgensen Gallery, New York, NY, June-August,
1999.
“Road Show,” DFN Gallery, New York, NY, June-August, 1999.
“94 Days of Summer,” Omni Gallery, Uniondale, NY, June-September, 1999.
“A Room with a View,” Sixth @ Prince Fine Art, New York, NY, May-July, 1999.
“Save the Teens,” Auction, China Club, New York, NY, May, 1999.
“NCECA Show,” Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, March, 1999.
“Ray Johnson Remembered,” Square Foot Gallery, Sea Cliff, NY, June, 1997.
“Painting and Sculpture,” Wainscott Gallery, Wainscott, NY, November, 1996. “International Art Exhibition,” Kookje Cultural Center, Pusan, Korea, September, 1996. “Wall Works,” Kyung Pook Sanup Gallery, Taegu, Korea, August, 1996.
Group Show, R.V.S. Fine Art, Southampton, NY, August, 1996.
“Different Visions,” Harbor Cove Gallery Sag Harbor, NY, August- September, 1995.
“Director’s Choice Selections,” Contemporary Gallery at Marywood University, Scranton, PA, November-February, 1995.
“Fiction, Formation, Figuration,” Gallery Korea, Korean Consulate, New York, NY, June, 1994.
“Twenty Years Today,” Islip Art Museum, Islip, NY, February-March, 1993. “Relief Sculpture,” Salenas Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, July-August, 1992.
“Seventh Annual National Exhibition,” San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX, April-May, 1992. (Poster)
“Sculpture Exhibited,” Scott Gallery, Southampton, NY, June-August, 1989.
“Red Hearts, Flying Cupids,” Wunch Art Center, Glen Cove, NY, February- March, 1989.
“U.N. International Day of Peace Exhibition,” Pak Sang Gallery, Seoul, Korea, May, 1988.
“Drawings,” Paul Cava Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, February, 1988. “Great Lakes Show,” Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL, June-July, 1987.
“Two Person Exhibition,” Studio Connection, Southampton, NY, June-July, 1987.
“Transformations,” Flushing Council on the Arts, New York, NY, April-May 1987; and Rockland Center for the Arts, Rockland, NY, February 1987.
“International Exhibition of Art,” New Core, Seoul, Korea, August- September, 1986. (Catalog)
“House and Garden,” Tenth Anniversary Exhibition, Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn, NY, October 1986-January 1987.
“Three Sculptors,” Traveling Exhibition
-Galerie Interaction, Montreal, Canada, April 1983.
-Le Muse de Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec, Canada, December 1982-January 1983. -La Galerie D’Art Mantane, Quebec, Canada, October-November 1982.
“Indoor and Outdoor Sculpture,” Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn, NY, August-October, 1982.
“Paintings,” Homage Gallery, Edgartown, MA, July-August, 1981.
“Work from the Permanent Collection,” Alternative Museum, New York, NY, May-June, 1981.
“Artworks by Nine New York Artists,” Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA, October-November, 1980.
“Open Studio Exhibition,” P.S.1, Long Island City, NY, May-June, 1980.
“Seven Artists,” P.S.1, April-June, 1980.
“Queens Museum Annual,” New York, NY, January-March, 1980.
“Let There Be Light,” Alternative Center for International Art, New York, NY, October- November, 1979.
“Open Studio Exhibition,” P.S.1, Long Island City, NY, May-June, 1979.
“The Detective Show,” Gorman Park, New York, NY, June, 1978.
“Open Studio Exhibition,” P.S.1, Long Island City, NY, May-June, 1978.
“Ten Windows,” Tenth Avenue at Fifty Fourth Street, New York, NY, January, 1978. “Artists Choose Artists,” P.S.1, Long Island City, NY, 1977.
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) Library, New York, NY Catalog #8163740 Bellevue Hospital, New York, NY LIU/Post, Brookville, NY
Konggi Museum, Sowon, Korea
Kyung Sung University, Pusan, Korea
Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn, NY North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY
COMMISSIONS
Heckscher Museum, Huntington, NY
M.T.A. Arts for Transit, New York, NY Ceramics Monthly Magazine, Westerville, OH Islip Art Museum, Islip, NY
Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea Marywood University, Scranton, PA Woodhull Hospital, Brooklyn, NY
Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY
1992 New York City Art for Transit
23rd Street and Ely Avenue Station, Long Island City, NY
Four Wall Sculptures with Mosaics
1978 Bellevue Hospital, New York, NY Sixty-six-piece modular ceramic wall sculpture
VISITNG ARTIST/FELLOWSHIPS/HONORS
Honoree, “A Benefit to Celebrate Achievement,” The Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY, December 5, 2009.
Invited Visiting Artist, Konggi Museum, Sowon, Korea, July, 2000.
Invited Visiting Artist, International Art School, Teagu, Korea, August, 1996.
Robert Lehman Foundation Grant, Visiting Artist, Friends Academy, Locust Valley, NY, November, 1990.
Studio Residency, P.S.1, Long Island City, NY, 1977-1980.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Daniels, Jean and Balderston-Glynn, Ann. Meet Frank Olt, Cove Living. May 2019. Evans, Dan. “All Island Art Show.” Fire Island Tide, August 2013.
The MoMA PS1 Archives. www.moma.org/learn/resources/archives/ps1 archives. 2012. Wixted, Kevin. For Immediate Release. Lohin Geduld Gallery 2004-2011, New York, NY.
2012. www.blurb.com/books/3310163-for-immediate-release-mkw. Evans, Dan. “Point O’Woods Art Show.” Fire Island Tide, August 2012.
Schwendener, Martha. “At the Heckscher, Works Torn From Life.” New York Times, December 8, 2011.
Parks, Steve. “ART: ‘A Way with Words’ at Heckscher.” Newsday, December 7, 2011. Evans, Dan. “Imprints in Point O’ Woods.” Fire Island Tide, August 20, 2010.
Rogers, Pat. “Frank Olt: “Architectural Spaces Abstracted.” Long Island Pulse, April 19, 2010.
Rogers, Pat. “The Art of Frank Olt: Challenges in Paint and Materials.” Long Island Pulse, July 2009.
Salamatina, Oksana. “Frank Olt: New Paintings.” Frank Olt: New Paintings Catalog, February 2009 (ISBN: 978-0-9825705-3-1).
Perrell, Franklin Hill. “Frank Olt: New Paintings.” Frank Olt: New Paintings Catalog, February 2009 (ISBN: 978-0-9825705-3-1).
Wayne, Kenneth, PhD. “Frank Olt: New Paintings.” Frank Olt: New Paintings Catalog, February 2009 (ISBN: 978-0-9825705-3-1).
Ahrens, Robin. “Frank Olt: New Paintings.” Frank Olt: New Paintings Catalog, February 2009 (ISBN: 978-0-9825705-3-1).
Lohin, Ro. “Drawing Atlas.” Drawing Atlas Catalog, August 2009.
Center Stage, Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, “Masters and Mentors: Faculty in
the Arts,” inside back page feature article, Fall 2008.
Robbins, Christopher. “Social Pulse,” Elements, Summer 2007.
Perrell, Franklin Hill. “Recent Works by Frank Olt.” Recent Works by Frank Olt Catalog. Lynda Anderson Galleries 2007.
Bloodworth, Sandra and Ayres, William S. Along the Way: MTA Arts for Transit. 2006. Henley, David. Page 139. Clayworks in Art Therapy: Plying the Sacred Circle. 2002. Frattini, Dave. Page 88. The Underground Guide to New York City Subways. 2000.
“Ceramics Monthly Collection Grows.” Ceramics Monthly September 1999.
King, Peter. Architectural Ceramics. Lark Books 1999.
NCECA Show Catalog 1999.
“Road Show.” NY Arts Cover Photo June 1999.
American Ceramic Society Catalog, March 1999.
Long, Robert. The Southampton Press, August 29, 1996. Harrison, Helen. New York Times, March 5, 1989.
Davidson, Gail S. Public Art Program. 1989.
Lipson, K. “Three Part Harmony.” Newsday, September 4, 1987. Newsday Sunday. Published Photo, August 30, 1987.
Collischan, Judith. “Frank Olt.” Frank Olt Catalog. 1987. Harrison, Helen. New York Times, March 16, 1986. Lipson, K. Newsday, March 12, 1986.
Parente, Janice and Stigliano, Phyllis. “The House and Garden: Tenth Anniversary Exhibition.” The Tenth Anniversary Exhibition Catalog. October, 1985.
Braff, Phyllis. “Review.” New York Times, September 19, 1982. Pincus-Witten, Robert. “Queens Museum Annual.” Queens Museum Catalog, January, 1980. Cohen, Ronny. “Review.” Artforum, April, 1980. Lamagna, Carlo. “Let There Be Light.” Let There Be Light Catalog. October, 1979.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1988 – Present
1984 – 1988 1977 – 1980 EDUCATION
Professor of Art, LIU/Post
Assistant Professor of Art, Southampton College Studio Residency, P.S.1
M.F.A., 1980 & B.F.A, 1978, Long Island University
1975-1980 Studio Assistant to the Bauhaus potter Rose Krebs