Kent Ullberg: Celebrating the Wild and Wonderful

The exhibition, KENT ULLBERG: Celebrating the Wild and Wonderful will be on display at the Art Museum of South Texas (AMST) May 17 through August 18, 2019. This extensive retrospective celebrates Corpus Christi artist, Kent Ullberg’s, long career as one of the world’s most distinguished wildlife artists since John James Audubon. Best known for iconic public sculptures throughout South Texas, Kent Ullberg’s international acclaim stems from his monumental works executed for museums and municipalities across the globe. Here in South Texas, Ullberg’s detailed and superb depictions of fish, sea mammals, turtles, native birds, and majestic land animals illustrate our dependence upon and affection for land and sea creatures.

The National Academy of Design elected Ullberg as a full academician, the first wildlife artist since John James Audubon to receive this tribute in American art.  A native of Sweden, he has called Corpus Christi home for 40 years.  Ullberg’s detailed depictions of fish, sea mammals, turtles, birds, and majestic land animals are truly representative of the globe’s wild creatures.  In addition, AMST will offer audiences a variety of hands-on interactives including a projection of wildlife habitats; hands-on touch display allowing visitors to discover locations of Ullberg’s public art; a digital wall projection of the Museum’s triptych sculpture; and an iPhone/iPad app which when pointed on the wall label gives additional information about the works on display.

Curated by the Art Museum of South Texas, this retrospective of Ullberg will encompass the artist’s work across the decades. In addition to the 64 sculptures, including 13 from the AMST Permanent Collection, the exhibition incorporates artist maquettes, tools, sketchbooks, drawings, and grouped pieces illustrating the stages in the process for casting the sculpture on view. Interactive technology activity stations will provide more opportunities for visitors to explore the work of this master artist.

By the Numbers
64 sculptures by renowned wildlife artist Kent Ullberg spanning his career
7 Large scale photos of monumental Ullberg sculptures from around the globe bring the world of Kent Ullberg to our galleries
13 Sculptures from the AMST Permanent Collection
5 Interactive educational technology stations
5 Galleries

Funding for this exhibition is generously provided in part by:
Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation Earl C. Sams Foundation Ed Rachal Foundation Ken and Amanda Kellar Prichard Family Foundation