Harrison Covington
Concentric Figures,
1996
LOCATION:
University of South Florida, Tampa
USF Simmons Park
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Concentric Figures, originally installed in the SunDome in 1996, was removed during renovations to the facility and relocated to Simmons Park in 2014, providing greater visibility and allowing viewers to engage and interact with the sculpture. The park serves as a crossroads connecting areas of research, education and residence – The Arts, with Medicine, Psychology and Engineering – which this sculpture synthesizes with its reference to the figure, humanity and diversity of experience and identity.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Harrison Covington has taught in universities since 1949, and was Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus (retired) of the College of The Arts at the University of South Florida, Tampa. From 1949 to 1961 he taught in the Art Department at the University of Florida. He moved to Tampa to become the founding chairman of the Department of Art at USF, and served in that capacity from 1961 to 1967. From 1967 to 1971 he served as the Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Director of the Division of Fine Arts, and brought the Division to full college status. He then served as Full Professor of Art until returning as Dean of the College of Fine Arts in 1977 and served in that capacity through 1982. He also created public art for the university, painted portraits of its presidents, and designed the mace carried in USF ceremonies such as commencement.
Harrison Covington has had over thirty solo exhibitions and his work is included in over forty public collections and numerous private ones. His honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship awarded in 1964, a Sloan Foundation Grant, and a Presidential Award from USF for Outstanding Teaching. He has also been awarded many research grants and awards for his paintings including selection for exhibition in the Museum of Modern Art show Painting USA: The Figure, in New York, 1962.
Detail of Concentric Figures.
Concentric Figures made possible by Florida's Art in State Buildings Program
Questions?
If you have any questions about the Public Art Program at USF, please call (813) 974-2203, or email publicart@usf.edu
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Copyright + Reproduction
Images of the artwork are jointly owned by the artist and the USF Public Art program. Reproduction of any kind including electronic media must be expressly approved by USF Public Art.