Michael Crespo (American/Louisiana, 1947-2010), "1000 Herons Rising", 2004, oil on linen, signed en verso, titled on stretcher, "David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN" label with artist, title and date on reverse of frame, 58 5/8 in. x 50 3/4 in., framed, overall 68 1/2 in. x 60 5/8 in. x 2 in. Provenance: David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN. Note: Michael Crespo was born in New Orleans in 1947. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University and Master of Fine Arts from City University of New York. He returned to LSU as a member of the faculty, where he spent thirty-five years as a beloved professor and eventually served as the director of the School of Art. He sadly passed away in 2010 after losing his battle with cancer. Crespo’s work is often referred to as “mysterious” and “haunting.” He distilled his subjects down to their quintessential forms, which he overlayed on simple, dark backgrounds. In the painting offered here, a graceful heron is suspended in an inky backdrop, flying over the horizon as if hovering in outer space. Luminous and focused brushstrokes pierce the darkness to illuminate the bird, imbuing it with a sense of ethereal calm. As his widow Libby Johnson has said: “Michael lived his life with the consciousness of places only he could see. Those places live in his work.”Ref.: Ronco, Savanna. “The Mysteries of Michael Crespo.” Sacannaronco’s Blog. Oct. 31, 2012. www.savannaronco.wordpress.com. Accessed Mar. 9, 2023.

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