Jeffrey Legg has been described as “one of the greatest still-life painters of our time” by the editor-in-chief of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.
His artwork has been purchased by astronaut Neil Armstrong, and at least one of his works is being enclosed in a time capsule to be launched to the moon.
Now, Legg is marking a homecoming and a milestone, having returned to his hometown of Joplin for a solo exhibition at the art center that molded him as a young artist.
Legg’s exhibition, “Alchemy of Light and Shadow,” is on display through Saturday, Oct. 25, at Spiva Center for the Arts in the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, 212 W. Seventh St.
“Returning to Joplin for my first solo exhibition, especially at the Spiva Center for the Arts, where I have deep roots, is incredibly meaningful,” said Legg, now of Rogers, Arkansas. “This is where my artistic journey began at age 12, where I had my first mentor, and where the initial sparks of my passion for art were ignited.
“To bring ‘Alchemy of Light and Shadow’ back to the community that shaped me feels like a full-circle moment. It’s deeply personal and incredibly gratifying to share my work with the place that first inspired it.”
This isn’t the first time Legg has exhibited at Spiva. His work has been in group shows at the art center, and he has donated artwork to Spiva’s major annual fundraiser, the St. Avips Ball and Art Auction. His work was in a 2019 group exhibit, “Darral Dishman: The Artist as Mentor,” that honored the late head of the art department at Missouri Southern State University from 1966 to 1984 and the director of Spiva Art Center when it was on the college campus before moving downtown.
During the opening reception of “Alchemy of Light and Shadow,” Legg acknowledged Dishman as his earliest mentor in art, training under him from seventh grade to his senior year in high school in Joplin.
“Having a mentor early in life was critical for me,” Legg said in an interview. “It gave me the skills I needed to pursue art when I was ready to. My mentor taught me that creating art really involves all the senses. Meaning that it’s not a static experience. It is a creative experience requiring input into all of our senses, which in turn inspires one to create.”
Legg’s rise began after studying at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the Atelier Lack Studio Program of Fine Arts, also in Minneapolis. By the age of 30, he had become a full-time artist.
In the three decades since, he has become recognized as an expert for the dramatic lighting and sensitivity to mood that are reflected in his Renaissance-inspired realist paintings.
He has earned a lengthy list of awards, memberships and exhibitions, including at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. He has led painting workshops across the United States, England and France, and his paintings have graced the pages of major art publications. Recently. his work was included in the book “The Art of Vanitas,” featuring 45 celebrated contemporary artists.
When asked what he considered to be his key achievements, Legg listed being named as a master signature member of the Oil Painters of America and a signature member of the California Art Club. He also noted being awarded best of show in still life at the Almenara Art Prize Exhibit in Cordoba, Spain.
Lunar Codex
His greatest honor? “By far, having astronaut Neil Armstrong purchasing my work,” he said.
His next accolade will come tentatively in December when his work is included in a digital time capsule that will be launched to the moon on NASA’s Polaris Mission.
His work will be included in the Lunar Codex, which uses digital and analog technology to preserve art, books, music and more, enclosed in time capsules. The codex will represent 262 countries and territories, including cultural works from 149 Indigenous nations and artists’ work from all 50 states, according to the Lunar Codex website.
Legg said his work was curated for the lunar mission through Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, noting that he will have at least one, possibly more images on the codex. The one that is guaranteed is “The Catch,” a still-life capturing the image of fish spilling from a copper bucket.
“My fish are flying to the moon,” he said.
As Legg shared his journey in art, he reflected on whether there was anything he would change.
“There is not too much that I would change about my path,” he said. “I don’t worry about the past. We can only press onward and upward. … Still-life work has provided for me and my family, but most of my early training was in portraits. Portraits and figures are my first love and I’m currently working more in that direction. I will, however, continue to create still-lifes as well.”
Legg will present a live demonstration and talk during “Experience the Expertise: An Afternoon with Jeffrey C. Legg” from 1-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Spiva. Tickets are $15 for Spiva members and $20 for nonmembers. They can be reserved at https://spivaarts.org/event/experience-the-expertise-an- afternoon-with-jeffrey-c-legg.