Kelly Fearing

Kelly Fearing Kelly Fearing, a maverick of Texas modernist art who taught generations of artists during his four decades at the University of Texas, died Sunday, the 13th of March, of congestive heart failure at his home in West Lake Hills at the age of 92. He was born in Fordyce, Arkansas to George David Fearing and Frankie Kelly Fearing on the 18th of October, 1918. After graduation high school, he studied art at Louisiana Tech University, then later at Columbia University, from which he received his master's degree. From 1945-1947, he taught at Texas Wesleyan College. In 1947 he started his long term career at the University of Texas in the Department of Art and Art History, where he retired as professor emeritus in 1987. After his retirement, he continued to work as a professional artist. Fearing's work from his Fort Worth years is abstract, surrealistic and filled with allegory - all characteristics that would remain in his work over the decades. Dickson Reeder, a Fort Worth artist who worked for the same contractor, introduced Fearing to area artists and they became the center of the swirl of avant garde printers and painters. This group -- who introduced modernist ideas to Texas art -- later became known as the Fort Worth Circle, in which Kelly is one of the last artist of this group. More than 80 of his prints and drawings are in the Blanton Museum of Art's permanent collection. He was an inspiration to students, fellow professors, and fellow artists. He is survived by his nephew, Charles Smith of Dallas, Smith's wife, Gaylon, and their three children. The family would also like to thank the caregivers, Deborah, Sherry, Wiesye and Millisa for their loving care and dedicated support. Those who would like to honor Kelly Fearing can make contributions to the Kelly Fearing Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Art. For more information about making a gift, please contact Andrea Keene at (512) 471.9270 or email her at akeene@austin.utexas.edu Contributions may be mailed to: The University of Texas at Austin, College of Fine Arts, Attn: Kelly Fearing Endowed Presidential Scholarship, 1 University Station D1400, Austin, Texas 78712-0340. A memorial celebration is planned for Saturday, the 23rd of April 2011 from five o'clock in the evening until seven o'clock in the evening at the Laguna Gloria Art Museum, 3809 West 35th Street, Austin. Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com