Jim Rennert was born in 1958, and grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Salt Lake City, Utah. After ten trying years of working in business, Rennert was inspired to explore his artistic vision and embarked upon his career as a sculptor in 1990. He began exhibiting in galleries in 1993 and has since gained significant recognition.

 

Rennert’s seminal series of works is immediately identifiable, with simplified figures and forms depicting men in suits. Combining the traditional medium of bronze with modern forms of flat laser cut steel, he illustrates concepts of corporate success and the obstacles faced by the modern working man. Drawing on both his past professional experiences, and those of his contemporaries, Rennert composes thought-provoking works to which viewers undeniably react and relate. Early works emphasize movement and physical metaphor, while more recent pieces show the development of a more contemplative character. In 2016 Rennert also released his first series of two-dimensional works, a collection of digital drawings available as large-scale prints.

 

Rennert continually exhibits at the major US art fairs as well as galleries in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, Utah, New Mexico, Maine, Colorado, and British Columbia, with private and corporate collectors world-wide. From June 2014 through May 2015, Rennert was honored with a monumental public installation of his iconic sculpture, THINK BIG, which was on exhibition in New York City’s Union Square, in cooperation with the NYC Parks Department.

 

ARTIST STATEMENT:
For the last several years my work has focused on my past experiences in the competitive world of business. Mixing the traditional medium of bronze and contemporary forms of flat laser cut steel, I have illustrated themes and concepts of every day work life. Integrated into the various pieces are suits, ladders, briefcases, and forms representing buildings, all of which are iconic visual representations of business. The title works together with the visual image to illustrate the experience, sometimes physical, sometimes psychological. I have used sports and other physical activities as a metaphor to express the daily struggles and achievements of the contemporary businessman. I try to emphasize movement in the figures as well as some of the forms by paying particular attention to their placement in relation to each other as well as on the supporting base. This presents a strong element of design in each work.

 

Initially I had hoped to have depicted popular culture's ideas on achievement and success in an ironic and humorous fashion. However, over the past years, the work has taken on a more serious tone as I illustrate more about the thoughts and ideas we all deal with in our contemporary society. The work has evolved into developing a consistent character and creating an environment in which the interaction between the two, brings in the viewer. This approach seems to allow the audience an opportunity to relate to the work in a very personal manner. While not everyone wears a suit, I feel the themes transcend to the everyman.

Background:
Graduated Brighton High School, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1976
Attended Brigham Young University, 1976-81
Elected a member of the National Sculpture Society in 2008

Named a National Sculpture Society Fellow in 2023

 

2022
Group Show, Aug 2022, Cavalier Gallery, New York, NY
Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, Mar 2022, Cavalier Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
Contemporary Representational Art, Mar-Apr 2022, Cavalier Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
2021

Jim Rennert: in New York, Sept-Oct 2021, Cavalier Gallery, New York, NY

2020

Annual Small Works Online Exhibition, Dec 2020, Cavalier Galleries

New York State of Mind, Mar-Apr 2020, Cavalier Galleries [Online Exclusive]

2019

Art Miami, Dec 2019, Miami, FL

Annual Small Works Online Exhibition, Nov-Dec 2019, Cavalier Galleries

Summer Group Show, June 2019, Cavalier Ebanks Galleries, Greenwich, CT

Art New York, May 2019, New York, NY
2018

Online Holiday Group Show, Dec 2018, Cavalier Galleries

Context Art Miami, Dec 2018, Miami, FL
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, Feb 2018, Palm Beach, FL
Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, Jan 2018, Palm Beach, FL
2017
It’s Happening! Celebrating 50 Years of Public Art in NYC Parks, Oct 2017, New York, NY
Cavalier Galleries, Group Exhibition, Sept – Oct 2017, New York, NY
Cavalier Galleries, MIXED Group Exhibition, May – Aug 2017, New York, NY
Aspen Antiques, Jewelry, Automobiles & Fine Arts Fair, July 2017, Aspen, CO
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, Feb 2017, Palm Beach, FL
Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, Jan 2017, Palm Beach, FL
2016
New York Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, Nov 2016, New York, NY
Cavalier Galleries, Cavalier Galleries 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Nov 2016, New York, NY
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, Feb 2016, Palm Beach, FL
2015
New York Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, Nov 2015, New York, NY
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, Feb 2015, Palm Beach, FL
Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, Feb 2015, Naples, FL
2014
New York Art, Antique & Jewelry, Nov 2014, New York, NY
Cavalier Galleries, Contemporary Realism, Oct 2014, Greenwich, CT
THINK BIG by Jim Rennert, Public Exhibition, Union Square, Jun 2014 – May 2015, New York, NY
Perspective by Jim Rennert, Public Exhibition, Union Square, Jun 2014 – May 2015, New York, NY
Cavalier Galleries, Jim Rennert: Sculpture Exhibition, Jun 2014, New York, NY
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, Feb 2014, Palm Beach, FL
Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, Feb 2014, Naples, FL
The Englishman "Presents Jim Rennert", Feb 2014, Naples, FL
LA Art Fair January 2014, Los Angeles, CA
2013
Aspen Antiques, Jewelry & Fine Arts Fair - Aspen, CO
Cavalier Galleries – New York, NY
The Englishman Gallery - Naples, FL
Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show - Naples, FL
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show - Palm Beach FL
2012
ArtAspen, Aspen, CO
Aspen Antiques, Jewelry & Fine Arts Fair - Aspen, CO
Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show - Naples, FL
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show - Palm Beach FL
Cavalier Galleries - Greenwich, CT
2011
Naples International Art & Antique Show - Naples, FL
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show - Palm Beach, FL
Antiques & Art at the Armory March - New York, NY
Meyer Gallery - Park City, UT
LA Art Show - Los Angeles, CA
2010
Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden - Coral Gables, FL
Red Dot Miami Fair - Miami, FL
Coral Springs Museum - Coral Springs, FL
National Sculpture Society 77th Annual Awards Exhibition – Brookgreen Gardens, SC
Affordable Art Fair - New York, NY
Art Hamptons - Bridgehampton, NY
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show - Palm Beach, FL
2009
Red Dot Miami Fair - Miami, FL
Art Hamptons - Bridgehampton, NY
2008
Public Art Installation - Palm Desert, CA
Cavalier Galleries - Nantucket, MA
National Sculpture Society 75th Annual Awards Exhibition - New York, NY
Art Around the Corner - St George, UT
Cavalier Galleries - Greenwich, CT
Coda Gallery - Palm Desert, CA
2007
Sculpture in the Park - Loveland, CO
Meyer Gallery - Park City, UT
Art Around the Corner - St. George, UT
Gallery at the Station - Ogden, UT
2006
Cavalier Galleries - Greenwich, CT
Finch Lane Gallery - Salt Lake City, UT
Sculpture in the Park - Loveland, CO
Kimball Museum Arts Festival - Park City, UT
Artfest - Dallas, TX
Art Around the Corner - St. George, Utah
St. George Arts Festival - St. George, UT
The Museum of History and Art, International Show
Allied Artists of America - New York, NY
2005
Cavalier Galleries – New York, NY
Kimball Museum Arts Festival - Park City, UT
St. George Arts Festival - St George UT
Springville Museum, Spring Salon - Springville, UT
3W Gallery - Salt Lake City, UT

Public Collections:
Federated Mutual Insurance Corporation, Owatanna, MN
City of Cottonwood Heights, UT
Colorado Council for the Arts, Mesa State College, Grand Junction, CO
Millrock Office Park, Salt Lake City, UT
Granite Education Foundation, Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Governors Mansion, Salt Lake City, UT
The Church Museum of History and Art, Salt Lake City, UT
Terra Industries, Union Park Center, Midvale, UT
Utah Arts Council, Ogden Schools for the Deaf and Blind, Ogden, UT
National Museum of Ski History, New Hartford, CT
Murray High School, Murray, UT
Bingham High School, South Jordan, UT
Jordan High School, Sandy, UT
Riverton High School, Riverton, UT
GSL Electric, Salt Lake City, UT
Overstock.com, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Publications and Media:
Sculptors of the Rockies, 2010
Sculptural Review Spring 2009
American Art Collector Feb 2009
Southwest Art Magazine, July 2008
American Art Collector, Feb 2008
The Inquirer and Mirror, Nov 2007
Santa Fe Focus Magazine, "The Art of the Deal" Oct 2007
American Art Collector, “Working 9-5” July 2007
KUTV Channel 2 News, “Art of the Deal” Sept 2006
Sculptural Pursuit Magazine, Jan 2006
Utah Homes and Garden, Winter 2001-02
Salt Lake City Tribune, 2000
Park Record, 1996