Leaving Appalachia: The Art of Gregory Saunders

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art will feature the works of Pensacola artist Gregory B. Saunders, a contemporary realist master working in the medium of powdered graphite.

His fascination with this particular art form began the day after his graduation from Morehead State University,  when he was sharpening his pencil and the graphite dust spilled over. Using a process he's developed over several years, he works the substance in ways ranging from drawing to sanding, to trapping between layers of acrylic spray as a means of adding value. In addition to his two-dimensional works, he frequently incorporates graphite portraiture into found object sculptural installations. 

The exhibition, titled Leaving Appalachia: The Art of Gregory B. Saunders, will be the first major survey of Saunders' work, capturing his explorations of landscapes, the human body, and his own identity. 

“These works are more than just marks on paper,” Saunders said. "This is my life laid bare.” ogdenmusuem.org.