Artist reception for ArtSpace Gallery exhibit – Kent Broadbent
Wednesday, Apr 2 // 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The ArtSpace Gallery at the Quad-Cities Campus is exhibiting “New and Improved,” abstract art by Kent Broadbent, from Monday, Feb. 24 through Friday, April 4. Pictured is “Blue and Orange Over Gesso” – cold wax and oil on panel.
Everyone is invited to the closing reception and artist’s talk Wednesday, April 2 from 4-6 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
The ArtSpace Gallery is located on the first floor of Building 4 at the Quad-Cities Campus, 6600 34th Ave., Moline.
For more information about exhibits in the ArtSpace Gallery, email ArtDesign@bhc.edu or visit Black Hawk College Art and Design.
About the artist
Kent Broadbent, a long-time resident of the Annawan area, grew up on the family farm his great grandfather purchased in 1865 and later built a house on. Broadbent and his wife still serve as caretakers to that homestead. He attended a small rural school and developed an interest in art when he was 12 years old. Broadbent’s mother believed that he and his siblings needed to develop their talents and encouraged them to develop and enjoy their skills and interests. The high school that he attended did not have art classes, so his mother helped him get into night art classes from a local teacher, and to his delight, his mother later joined him in the classes.
As time went on, Broadbent departed the family farm to attend Illinois State University. Although he graduated with a degree in psychology, he took numerous painting and sculpture classes and continued to take drawing classes at Augustana College in Rock Island after graduation. He returned to the family farm and took over the farming operation.
Broadbent dabbled in painting for a short time after he returned to the farm, but life got in the way. He later worked in the financial industry as a loan officer for the bulk of his career. During that period, his time spent on art diminished. He always had it in the back of his mind that when he retired, the brushes would once again be full of fresh paint.
In 2010, he was diagnosed with cancer and decided to again pursue his interest in art. He was painting again with new enthusiasm and a new found love and appreciation of life and art.
His joy of painting is evident to this day, with the vivid colors he uses and the energy of his personal style. Broadbent believes the cancer diagnosis was a blessing in disguise and serves as his inspiration to create art. His preferred style is directed toward abstract expressionist lines, although he occasionally dabbles in abstract landscapes from walking in the country around his farm. The last five years he has been working exclusively in cold wax and oil, and loves the unique depth and richness that medium provides.
Artist statement
Every new piece of my artwork starts with a line. Maybe it is an old No. 2 pencil or maybe a stick of charcoal. That line is the begin of a new work. I never know where the line will end up. I add new layers and remove partial layers to reveal the history of the layers. I use various instruments to paint with. I incorporate different materials such as sand, pigment, paper, etc. to add texture. The fun of creating is going from a single line to a bold and vibrant abstract piece of work. I hope that when people see my finished work, they find the joy that I lived creating the work of art. There is no deep philosophical thought behind my work, but I hope people just lose themselves in my work.
