The Roots of Symbolic Realism
Born in Refugio, United States, Kermit Oliver developed an early talent for drawing the cattle, horses, and the flora and fauna of the south Texas landscape. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Texas Southern University in Houston, where he studied under Dr. John T. Biggers. He earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and art education degrees in 1967. His artistic style, which he describes as symbolic realism, combines contemporary and classical elements to create lushly illustrated worlds. In these paintings, animals, plants, and humans interact in surreal juxtapositions, often exploring themes such as growth, metamorphosis, birth, death, rebirth, resurrection, immortality, and redemption.
Artistic Career and Legacy
Oliver’s career is marked by significant achievements in both fine art and design. He was the first African-American artist in Houston to be represented by a major commercial gallery and has had works included in numerous museum collections, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. His painting “Tobias” was featured in the 2016 inaugural exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Oliver is recognized for his work as a designer for the French fashion house Hermès, where he created 17 designs over 32 years. He was honored with the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Art League Houston in 2013 and named the 2017 Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist by the Texas Commission on the Arts.
