It's About Time: Celebrating 35 Years (2004-2005)

Chester Arnold’s paintings express his overriding interest in social and environmental issues. In this work, pools of stagnant water snake through heaping mounds of rubber tires. In the background, smoldering fires emit black clouds of polluted smoke that reinforce the potentially catastrophic effects of human waste. Despite this bleak vision, is startlingly beautiful—the circular disks of the tires are treated as formal design elements resulting in an undulating composition of darks and lights.


Indestructible Wonder (2016-2017)

Chester Arnold creates dramatic, large-scale oil paintings that address human actions and events that negatively affect the natural world. While concept and content take the lead roles in his work, Arnold does not overlook painterly technique or formal considerations. He strikes a balance between social and political responsibility and aesthetic drama.

Fascinated with catastrophe as it relates to environmental destruction, Arnold filled Entropic Landscape with heaping mounds of rubber tires, some of which are on fire. The flames, a common motif in the artist’s work, reinforce his message about the looming negative effects of man-made waste. Arnold’s painting is startlingly beautiful—despite its bleak subject and explicit warning about the implications of human abuse of the natural world.

Indestructible Wonder, April 18, 2016 - January 29, 2017, Second Floor, Central and North Galleries, San José Museum of Art.

It's About Time: Celebrating 35 Years, October 3, 2004 - February 13, 2005, New Wing, Gibson Family Gallery and Plaza Gallery, First Floor, San José Museum of Art.

Urban Invasion: Chester Arnold and James Doolin, July 28, 2001 - October 14, 2001, New Wing, Gibson Family Gallery and Plaza Gallery, First Floor, San José Museum of Art.

• Image Dimensions: 72 x 94 in. (182.88 x 238.76 cm)

This object has the following bibliographic references:

• Selections: The San Jose Museum of Art Permanent Collection. Selections: The San Jose Museum of Art Permanent Collection San Jose Museum of Art. San Jose, CA, 2004
  Page Number: 6-7

This object is a member of the following portfolios: