BIO
Ron Baron was born in Springfield, MA and raised in the suburb Longmeadow. He quit high school at 16 and took a ceramics continuing education class at Baypath Community College where he met his instructor the salt glaze potter David Halsey. Baron began to work with Halsey at the Leverett Arts and Crafts Center, assisting with his work and in the evenings and weekends creating his own. Passionate about salt glaze ceramics Baron went on to study with Don Reitz at the University of Wisconsin in Madison receiving a B.A. in Art. In 1985 Baron pursued his MFA in Ceramics and Sculpture at the University of California, Davis studying with the legend Robert Arneson. While in grad school Baron began to work with accumulations of found ceramic bric-a-brac that he incorporated into his ceramic sculptures.
After graduate school in 1988 Baron moved to Brooklyn New York and gained recognition for his “STAX”, a series of vessel like sculptures created from stacked dishes. In 1991 he was awarded an 8 month Lila Wallace Giverny Artist Residency Grant and lived and worked at the Monet Museum and homestead in France. While in residence he toured Europe and North Africa collecting objects that were used in his assemblages. In 1992 he received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in Sculpture and in 1997 was awarded a New York Foundation in the Arts grant in Sculpture. Baron has been an artist in residence at Yaddo in upstate New York ten times beginning in 1993 and most recently in 2015 when he was awarded the Louise Bourgeois Endowed Residency. Baron also received a Pollock-Krasner Grant in 2015. For more then two decades he has exhibited his work nationally and internationally in exhibitions at galleries and museums.
Over the past 10+ years, Baron has focused his major efforts on creating large-scale works for public spaces. Since the mid 1990’s he has completed more then 20 Public Art projects and site specific installations. Some of his most prominent works are commissions with the MTA and Long Island Railroad in Hempstead, NY, Indianapolis International Airport, Board of Education NYC, Depart of Cultural Affairs NYC, Alaska International Airport, University of Oregon: Autzen Stadium, the Portland Regional Arts Council and the Department of Cultural Affairs San Jose, CA.
Ron Baron currently lives in Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY and teaches Sculpture at the School of Visual Art, NYC.
Baron’s commissions focus primarily on creating art for public spaces ranging from airports, train stations, stadiums, libraries and community centers. His work develops around themes that are site-specific; reflecting the ethos and geneology of the local community, culture and history.
Baron's sculptures are composed of an amalgamation of repurposed objects that are layered and stacked to create forms that suggest vessels, monoliths, trophies, archeological digs, earth-strata and seating elements.
After a long hiatus Baron has returned to working in clay extensively. His current body of work explores grief, loss and anger associated with a family tragedy.
Baron has completed over a dozen site specific installations. Some of the highlights include "Birds" commissioned by the Public Art Fund in NYC on the Hudson River, "Tower of Time" commissioned by the Brooklyn Public Library main branch and "Weekend Warrior" commissioned by Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, NY.
RON BARON
Public Art and Solo Exhibitions
2017 "Beyond-Beyond, solo exhibition, Smack Mellon, Brooklyn NY
2016 "Ron Baron and Fred Escher", Two Person Show, Fred Valentine Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2013 “Stratigraphy”, Bascom Library and Community Center, San Jose, CA
-Bronze and granite sculptures at entryway
-Commissioned by the San Jose Council for the Arts, CA
2012 “North to the Future”, Ted Stevens International Airport, Anchorage, AL
-An installation of bronze sculptures
-Commissioned by the Airport and Alaska Council for the Arts
“You are Here”, Jeld-Wen Park, Portland, Oregon
-Commissioned by the city of Portland and the Timbers Soccer Team,
2011 “Finish Line”, Cleveland Transit Authority, Cleveland, Ohio
-An installation of bronze and granite sculptures for the Puritas Station
-Commissioned by the Greater Cleveland Transit Authority
2010 “Bounce Pass”, Orlando Magic Recreation Center, Orlando, Florida
-Three suspended sculptures for the interior lobby
-Commissioned by the Orlando Magic Basketball team
2009 “American Tourister”, Damen Brown Station, Chicago Transit Authority, Illinois
- An installation of bronze sculptures for the Damen Brown Train Station
-Commissioned by the Chicago Transit Authority
"Bell Hop", Cooper Hotels, Ft. Meyers, Florida
-Sculpture for the lobby of a new hotel
2008 “Baggage Claim”, Indianapolis Airport, Indianapolis, IN,
-An installation of bronze sculptures for the new airport
-Commissioned by the Indianapolis International Airport
2005 “Lost and Found: an Excavation Project” Long Island Rail Road, MTA, New York, NY
-An installation of bronze sculptures for the train station plaza, Hempstead, NY
-Commissioned by the Long Island Railroad and the MTA,
“Dear Mother”, Stedeliik Museum ‘s Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
-Vertical sculpture for permanent collection
-Commissioned by the Stedeliik Museum
"Weekend Warrior", Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City NY
-4 ton site specific sculpture
-shown in a group exhibition "SPORT"
2004 “OH!”, University of Oregon, Autzen Football Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
-2 suspended sculptures composed of thousands of trophy tops
-Commissioned by the Univ. Oregon, Eugene,
2000 “Tower of Time: Mirror of Brooklyn”, Brooklyn Public Library,
-Site-specific sculpture for lobby of Main Branch
-Commissioned by the Brooklyn Public Library
1999 ”Birds”, Public Art Fund, New York, NY
-Outdoor site-specific installation
-Commissioned by The Greenwall Foundation and the Public Art Fund
“Lost and Found”, solo show, Alfred University, Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, Alfred, NY
”Full Court Press”, ESPN: The Zone, New York, NY
1998 "UFO (Unidentifiable Found Objects), Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City NY
1997 "Built with Pride", solo show, Anna Kustera Gallery, New York, NY
1996 "Spiritual", Este Lauder Inc., NYC, NY, Ronald Lauder
-Sculpture commissioned for lobby of company headquarters
1995 "Daddy-Magnetism", solo show, Chassie Post Gallery, New York, NY*
"Receiver", Configura 2: Dialogue of Cultures, Erfurt, Germany
-Installation of a monumental sculpture in the central plaza
-Commissioned by Configura 2, and the city of Erfurt
1994 "Ron Baron", Solo Show, Sculpture Center, New York, NY
1994 "Gates of Knowledge", Intermediate School #2, Brooklyn, NY,
-Eight bronze sculptures incorporated into the fence and gate
-Commissioned by the Board of Education, Percent for Art Program, NYC
1993 "My Time Is Now", Lehman College Gymnasium, Bronx, NY,
-A vertical bronze sculpture installed at the entrance to the new gymnasium
-Commissioned by Lehman College, Dormitory Authority of New York,
"Ron Baron", Solo Show, Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, NY
1989 "Ron Baron", Solo Show, Milford Gallery, New York, NY
Honors, Residencies and Awards
2015 Pollock-Krasner, Grant
Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, NY, Louise Bourgeois Endowed residency
2014 Gottlieb Foundation, Grant
2008 Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, NY, summer residency
2007 Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, NY, summer residency
2005 Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City, NY, Grant
Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, NY, summer residency
Virginia Center for the Arts, Virginia, residency
2001 Pollock-Krasner Foundation: Grant
2000 Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, NY, George Rickey Endowed Residency
1999,'96,'95 Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, NY, summer residency
1998 Public Art Fund, “Art in the Public Realm” Greenwall Foundation Fellowship
1997 New York Foundation for the Arts: Artist Fellowship, Sculpture Grant
Tiffany Foundation Award, nominee
1997 Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City, NY, outdoor installation, grant
1993 Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, NY:
-The Milton and Sally Avery Fellowship
Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation: Studio Program, New York, NY
-One-year studio space in Tribeca, NYC
1992 National Endowment for the Arts: Mid Atlantic, Artist Fellowship
1991 Giverny Residency, Lila Wallace - Reader's Digest, Grant, Stipend
-Artist-in-residence at the Claude Monet Foundation,France
1989 Art Matters Incorporated: Grant
Pollock - Krasner Foundation: Grant
Group Exhibitions – Selected: 1990–present
Locations include:
Ace Gallery, Anna Kustera Gallery, Art in General, Boise Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Caren Golden Gallery, Exit Art, Clay Art Center,
Everson Museum, Garth Clark Gallery, James Graham Gallery, Mint Museum, Parrish Museum, PS1, Pierogi,
Newark Museum, Sculpture Center, Seattle Museum, Smack Mellon, Stedeliik Museum, Thread Waxing Space,
UBS Gallery, Wave Hill, Wexner Museum
Public Art Collections
Alaska International Airport
Alfred University, Fosdick-Nelson Museum, Alfred, NY
Board of Education, New York
Chicago Transit Authority
Cleveland Transit Authority
Cooper Hotels, Memphis, TN
Department of Cultural Affairs New York
Dormitory Authority of New York
Este Lauder, Ronald Lauder
ESPN: The Zone, New York, NY
Hudson River Conservancy, NYC
Indianapolis International Airport Authority
Lehman College
Long Island Railroad and the Metropolitan Transit Authority
Oakland Museum of Art, Oakland, CA
Orlando Magic, National Basketball Association
Portland Regional Arts and Council, City of Portland
Prudential Insurance
Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
San Jose, City of, CA
Stedeliik Museum, ‘s Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Timbers Professional Soccer Team
University of California, Davis
University of Oregon, Autzen Football Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
Publications - Books * indicates photo
The Art of it All - Art and Architecture Indianapolis International Airport, Emmis Publishing, 2010*
Schwartz, Judith, Confrontational Ceramics, A&C Black Publishing, London, 2008*
Bloodworth, Sandra, Along the Way: MTA Arts for Transit, Monacelli Press, 2006
Meilach, Donna, Teapots Makers and Collectors, Shiffer Books, 2005*
City Art: New York's Percent for Art Program, Merrell Publishers. 2005*
Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation, Artist to Artist, 2002*
Garth, Clark, The Artful Teapot, 2001, *
Museum Het Kruithaus, Choices From America, Museum Publication, Sept. 1999 *
Abrams, Harry N., New Art, third edition, Abrams Press, (Sept.) 1997 *
Speight, Charlotte. Hands In Clay, second edition, Mayfield Press, 1988 *
Publications – Periodicals * indicates photo
Victory Journal, December Issue, New York, NY, 2015
“Opening Day of New Bascom Library”, Mercury Newspaper, San Jose, CA, Feb. 23, 2013
Castillo, Alphonso, “Artist Get a New Platform”, Newsday, October 2011*
Chicago Transit Public Art Catalog, September 2011*
"2008 in Review: Top Public Art". Art in America - Annual Guide, August, 2009 *
Nationline, “Carry-ons that are Sat On”, USA Today, Wednesday, November 12, 2009*
Baker, R.C., “A Delicate Balance at Caren Golden Gallery”, Village Voice, July 2008
Berry, S.L., “Airports Grand Design, Indianapolis Star, April 28, 2007*
"2005 in Review: Top Public Art". Art in America - Annual Guide, August, 2006 *
Kim, Theodora, “Sights for Soaring Eyes”, The Indianapolis Star, January 2006
Dollar, Steve, “Celebrating 20 Years Underground”, Newsday, July 8, 2005
Chan, Sewell, “Access to Art with a Metro Card”, New York Times, June 30, 2005*
St. John, Warren, “Ball in Flight and other Jock Art”, New York Times, June 19, 2005
Kim, Theodora, “Public Art to Brighten Indy’s Doorway”, The Indianapolis Star, April, 2005*
"2004 in Review: Public Art". Art in America - Annual Guide, August, 2004 *
“Reduce/Reuse/Reexamine”, Exhibition Catalog, Wave Hill, Glyndor Gallery, April, 2004*
Lazo, Alejandro, “Think its Trash?” Riverdale Press, April 2004
McMorrow, Denise, Exhibition Review, “Reduce/Reuse”, Brooklyn Rail, April, 2004
Gomez, Edward, "Art's Innovative Messengers", Art and Antiques, December. 2002*
Smith, Roberta, "Funky New Digs", New York Times, Sept. 28th, 2001
Takahashi, Corey, "Art Finds its Center", Newsday, Sept. 28th, 2001*
"1999 in Review: Best of Public Art". Art in America - Annual Guide, August, 2000*
"Allan Chasanoff Ceramic Collection", Mint Museum of Craft and Design, 2000
"Friendships in Arcadia: Writers and Artists at Yaddo in the 90's", exhibition catalog, Dec., 2000
Croop, Patti, "Hyde Museum Exhibit Celebrates Yaddo", Saratogian, August, 2000*
Fehrenkamp, Ariane, "Commissions-New York", Sculpture, Jan.-Feb. 2000
Katz, Nancy, "Gifts for the 21st Century", Daily News, November 9th, 1999*
Holt, Dennis, "Overflow Crowds at History Fair", Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Oct. 27, 1999*
City Section, "History Fair", The New York Times, Oct. 26, 1999*
Liff, Bob, "Library and Students Create Time Capsule", Daily News, Oct. 26, 1999*
Galleries Downtown, “Ron Baron: Birds”, The New Yorker, Sept. 6, 1999
Johnson, Ken, “A Fertile Garden of Sculptures”, The New York Times, August 13, 1999
Around Town, ”Ron Baron’s Birds”, Time Out, August 5-12, 1999*
City Section, “Ron Baron’s Birds”, The New York Times, August 7, 1999*
Up and Coming, ”Domestic Transformations”, Brooklyn Eagle, March, 1999*
Camhi, Leslie, ”Domestic Transformations”, The Village Voice, February 1999
Johnson, Ken, “Domestic Transformations”, The New York Times, January, 1999*
Calendar, “Domestic Transformations”, The New York Times, December 1998
Kotik, Charlotta, ”Domestic Transformations”, Brooklyn Museum, exhibition brochure, 1999*
Whatcomb Museum of Art, ”Trashformations”, exhibition catalog, 1998*
Cameron, Dan, ”New York the Year in Review - Best of ‘97”, Artforum, December, 1997
Smith, Roberta, ”Sculpture Adorns the Urban Terrain,” New York Times, Aug. 8th, 1997
“Microfiction; an event of language”, Black Book, summer issue, 1997 *
Arning, Bill, ”Ron Baron at Anna Kustera Gallery”, Time Out, April 1997 *
Clifford, Katie, ”Ron Baron at Anna Kustera Gallery”, Art Papers, July-August 1997 *
Levin, Kim, "Choices", The Village Voice, March-April, 1997
Robinson, Walter, "New York in Review", Artnet Magazine, Internet, March, 1997 *
Killam, Brad, "Masculine Measures", The New Art Examiner, Sept. 1996
Schwabsky, Barry, "Art at Work", The New York Times, July, 1996 *
Auer, James, "Men and Art,” The Milwaukee Sentinel, February, 1996 *
"1994 in Review: Public Art". Art in America - Annual Guide, August, 1995 *
Configura 2 - Dialogue of Culture, Exhibition Catalog, Erfurt, Germany, 1995 *
Levin, Kim, "Configura 2", Neue Bildende Kunst, Berlin, Germany, 1995 *
Cash, Stephanie, "Reviews - New York, Ron Baron", Art in America, July, 1995 *
Ash,John. "Reviews - New York, Ron Baron", Artforum, April 1995 *
Levin, Kim. "Choices", The Village Voice, March-April 11th, 1995
"Galleries - Downtown", The New Yorker, April 10th, 1995
"Soho and Tribeca", New York Magazine, March 20, 1995
Copeland, Rochelle, "Daddy-Magnetism: The Work of Ron Baron", catalog essay, '95 *
Levin, Kim. "Choices-The Short List", The Village Voice, Oct. 25,1994
Percent for Art-NYC, "Art for Learning", Exhibition Catalog, Oct. 1994 *
Raynor, Vivien. "A Grand Opening for a Dealer", The New York Times, May 8, 1994
Freudenheim, Betty. "At the Newark Museum, the …", The New York Times, Dec. 19, 1994*
Hess, Elizabeth. "Beyond Hero", The Village Voice, Dec. 14, 1993
Cotter, Holland, "Public Art in the Bronx", The New York Times, Dec. 10, 1993
Smith, Roberta. "Examining Culture Through It's Castoffs", The New York Times, Nov. 23, 1993*
Webster, Sally. "Public Art in the Bronx", Exhibition Catalog, 1993 *
Myers, Terry. "Fever", New Art Examiner, March, 1993
Everson Museum Publication, "29th Ceramic National", Exhibition Catalog, 1993 *
Kimmelman, Michael. "Promising Start at a New Location", The New York Times Dec. 18, 1992*
Museum Het Kruithaus, "Al (l) Ready Made", exhibition catalog, Sept. 1992 *
Mid Atlantic Art's Foundation, awards catalog, 1992 *
Morsiani, Paola, "New York in Review", Juliet, May 1991 *
Smith, Roberta. The New York Times, April 22, 1990
"Ron Baron", Ceramics Monthly, Oct. 1989, pg. 66 *
"1988 in Review: Alternative Spaces", Art in America - Annual Guide, August, 1989, *
"Selections '88", Artist Space, New York, NY, exhibition catalog, Nov. 1988 *
Raynor, Vivien. "'88 at the Bronx Gallery", The New York Times, *, Nov. 13, 1988
Bronx Art's Council, "Strange Pasts Opens New Season", Oct. 1988 *
Baker, Kenneth. "Art with Overtones of Terror,Torture and Violence", San Fran. Chronicle,’87
