Graydon Parrish
White Roses
oil on panel, 12 3/4 x 13
Min Bid: $18,000

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Graydon Parrish has dedicated his painting career to revitalizing the traditions of figurative art. Along with Jacob Collins, Nelson Shanks and Daniel Sprick, Graydon is at the vanguard of a global art movement seeking to elevate contemporary appreciation for the classical values of critical thinking, humanism, skill and refined aesthetics.

Graydon was raised in East Texas and studied at the New York Academy of Figurative Art in New York, Amherst College and privately with the emeritus painter Michael Aviano.

He is represented by Hirschl and Adler galleries in New York City and Galerie Albert Benamou in Paris, France. His largest painting, The Cycle of Terror and Tragedy: September 11th, 2001, was commissioned by the New Britain Museum of American Art, and is one of the largest contemporary allegories produced in the last 100 years. His private collectors include Diane Sawyer, Christopher Forbes and Michael Huffington.

Graydon moved to Austin from Boston, Massachusetts in May 2008.

His painting of white roses, dedicated to Octo Tea's 13th anniversary, embodies his admiration for nature and for the old masters. It evokes both the richness of painters of the 18th century, like Anne Vallayer-Coster, as well as the impressionist Henri Fantin-Latour. Flowers being symbols of love and hope are an appropriate reminder of the Austin community's care and advocacy for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Graydon hopes his art will carry well into the Austin community and inspire others to give.