UB Anderson Gallery exhibition will include drawings, sculpture and documentation of the public projects of Howard Ben Tre

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Private Visions, Utopian Ideals: The Art of Howard Ben Tré will open in the UB Anderson Gallery with a public reception to honor the artist on from 6-8:30 p.m. April 1. A lecture by the artist entitled, "Taking the Personal Vision from the Privacy of the Studio into the Public Space," will occur at 2 p.m. on April 17 in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. The lecture will be free with gallery admission and free to UB staff and students with valid ID.

UB Anderson Gallery, located on Martha Jackson Place near Englewood and Kenmore, is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, will be on view through July 24.

Ben Tré is recognized internationally for his unique glass sculptures and large-scale works of art for public and private spaces. His sculpture makes reference to historical architectural forms, industrial shapes, and Eastern ceremonial artifacts while gracefully moving us into the 21st century with its futuristic components. Ben Tré's breakthrough technical innovations have extended his mastery of cast glass and allowed him to create monumental sculptures that can survive the rigors of outdoor installation.

Private Visions, Utopian Ideals, organized by UB Art Galleries director, Sandra H. Olsen, Ph.D., includes sculptures, works on paper and a selection of drawings, models and photographs of Ben Tré's public art projects. The exhibition is organized such that visitors will leave with a greater understanding of the sculpture-making and urban planning processes, which Ben Tré engages in his work.

Said Olsen, "Nearly always beginning with gestural drawings, the artist's conceptual processes have morphed over the last decade due to technological advancements. For example, maquettes and detailed scale models have been replaced by digital renderings. We've included in this exhibition many phases of a project's development to illustrate the complex processes involved."

A 128-page catalog with a foreword by Olsen and an insightful essay by Eleanor Heartney documents the exhibition with more than 50 full-color illustrations.

A pioneer in the use of cast glass as a sculptural medium, Ben Tré received a BSA from Portland State University in Oregon and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island where his home and studio are located. His work is included in more than 85 museum and public collections worldwide, including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

UB Anderson Gallery is supported with funds from the Office of the Provost, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Anderson Gallery Program Fund and the UB Collection Care and Management Endowment Fund.