Joseph Havel’s On History in the 1300 block of Heights Boulevard

Houston likes to claim the artist Joseph Havel as our own, but in actuality, his works are found in exhibitions and public collections throughout the world. Across from Heights Neighborhood Library on the esplanade of Heights Boulevard, Havel’s sculpture “On History”—a 9-foot tall patinaed bronze figure seemingly reaching toward the sky—has even more to behold in its fine detail. Havel says, “My sculpture in general and this work particularly is about the intimate and tactile way we experience questions about our place, relationships and history. The last few months experiencing the distancing needed because of the pandemic, intimacy as a way of feeling connected seems even more important. We need art to help make us feel our humanness.”

Photo courtesy of Kolanowski Studio

A few of Havel’s public works can be found at The Menil Collection, Houston; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Ministry of Culture, France; The Federal Reserve Bank, Dallas; The Dallas Museum of Art; Musee d’art et d’industrie, Roubaix, France; Art Center Hugo Voeten, Herentals, Belgium; and Centre Pompidou, Paris, France.

Joseph Havel currently holds the positions of Director, Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and director of The Core Program—an internationally-recognized post-graduate fellowship and residency program. He was born in Minneapolis, graduated with a BFA in studio art from the University of Minnesota and received his M.F.A. from Pennsylvania State University. Of his numerous accolades, he was awarded the 2019 Brown Foundation Artist Residency at the Dora Maar House, Menerbes, France; was named 2013 Texas Visual Artist, The Texas Commission for the Arts and Texas State Legislature; 2010 Texas Artist of the Year, Art League Houston; was given the 2008 Dallas Contemporary Legends Award; and earned a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in 1987.

Photo courtesy of Kolanowski Studio

Thank you, Joseph, and all the 2020 artists for providing much-appreciated respite during these disquieting times. All sculptures are for sale, and TRUE NORTH artists have generously agreed to donate 20% of any sales back to the project’s designated fund for future exhibitions. We also thank our community- and arts-minded TRUE NORTH 2020 Underwriters—it cannot happen without their support. Please visit our website for more information on the project or contact us at boulevardart@houstonheights.org.

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