D.J. Lafon 1929-2011 : East Gallery, March 7-May 8, 2011.

              DJ Lafon East Gallery - March 7 ? May 8, 2011
file:////maindc/users/gphillips/PDFs%2067/Capitol%20Art/DJ_Lafon_East_Gallery_2011.html[9/28/2012 3:01:29 PM]
Big Hat by DJ Lafon
Unknown by DJ Lafon
Two-Sides by DJ Lafon
D.J. Lafon 1929 – 2011
East Gallery - March 7 – May 8, 2011
March 28, 2011
D.J. Lafon was born in Ogden, Utah and took an early
interest in art. He began making a living as an artist at
the age of 18 and was featured in Life Magazine as one of
America's top emerging artists in 1951. He received his
Bachelor's and Master's of Fine Art in painting and drawing
from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
In 1964, after years of working as an illustrator and
teaching painting and drawing, Lafon assumed the
chairmanship of the Art Department at East Central
University in Ada. While teaching, Lafon remained
dedicated to the creation of his own art. He considered
teaching to be his second job and worked diligently in his
home studio at night. Lafon retired from teaching in 1984
and moved to a home in rural east Norman where he
committed himself full-time to his own artwork.
Lafon served as the Visual Arts Director for the Oklahoma
Arts Institute and as a Guest Artist at Wichita State
University in 1990. He was the recipient of many honors
and awards including a Governor's Arts Award in 1992 and
the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Paseo Arts
Association. He presented his work in numerous solo and
group exhibitions and his work was acquired by many
museums, galleries, and public collections including the
State Art Collections of Oklahoma and Utah, the University
of North Carolina Art Museum, Springfield Art Museum,
Oklahoma City Art Museum, Philbrook Museum in Tulsa,
Southwestern Bell Telephone, Conoco and Koch Industries.
Lafon also completed various public commissions for
Warner Brothers, the University of Oklahoma School of
Dentistry, and the Ada Public Library, among others. Lafon
has been represented by JRB Art at the Elms in Oklahoma
City since 2003.
Lafon had a long running series of paintings investigating
people of power, including generals, popes, business
leaders, and politicians.
This exhibit features many of Lafon's businessmen. Of the
series, Lafon said, "One of the most mysterious and
difficult things is people. Why do they do what they do? I
used to spend a lot of time looking through magazines to
see 'what is General so and so doing? And what is this
person doing?' And you do hear a little bit about
businessmen now, but we really don't know what they do.
I don't know what they do really behind closed doors. They
are kind of mysterious."
Lafon was a notoriously humble and genuine artist with
just a touch of sarcasm. He passed away at his Norman
studio on January 18, 2011. His wife Dortha was by his
side.
Capitol Exhibitions
The Capitol is home to four art
galleries, exhibiting works of
current and past Oklahoma
artists.
East Gallery
North Gallery
Governor's Gallery
Betty Price Gallery
About the East Gallery
Located on the first floor of the
Capitol, the East Gallery
features paintings and mixed
media works by current
Oklahoma artists. Exhibits rotate
approximately every 60 days.
Hours:
Weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Weekends 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (use
west entrance)
The East Gallery is curated by
the Oklahoma Arts Council. For
more information contact Alyson
Moses at 405.521.2931 or
alyson.moses@arts.ok.gov.
Past East Gallery Exhibitions
Selection of Artists for
Exhibition
Upcoming East Gallery
Exhibits
Pamela Husky (Stigler)
December 10, 2012 -
February 10, 2013
Regina Murphy (Oklahoma
City)
February 10 - December 10,
2012
Gina Dowling (Norman)
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