Butterfield has used the horse as her primary subject since 1973. Initially the sculptures were naturalistic, even classical; however, as she became more intersted in the formal qualities of found materials the works became increasingly expressive and charged with personal associations. Butterfield is an accomplished trainer and dressage rider. She uses the horses on her ranch as models for her art. This particular sculpture has a very special connection to the Art Center as Hoover is a "portrait" of a horse the artist found and purchased at a stable near Des Moines.
Deborah Butterfield was born oin 1949 in San Diego, California, and received her B.A. and M.F.A. from the University of California-Davis. In 1979 she joined Montana State University-Bozeman as Assistant Professor of Art.
Source: Bulletin/News, May-June, 1987.
Exhibition History"Commitment, Community and Controversy: The Des Moines Art Center Collections," Des Moines Art Center, Jan. 24 - May 10, 1998
"Deborah Butterfield: Sculptures 1979 to 1992," Madison Art Center, Madison, WI, Feb. 19 - May 1, 1994; The Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH, June - Aug. 1994
"Critters," Des Moines Art Center, Aug. 21 - Oct. 31, 1993
"Deborah Butterfield," Edward Thorp Gallery, New York, N.Y.
(Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA, Feb 19 - Jun 15, 2007)
Published References"Deborah Butterfield Sculpture 1979 to 1992," Madison Art Center, 1994, Exh. brochure, color cover ill.
Gallery Guide for "Critters," Des Moines Art Center, Aug. 1993
AN UNCOMMON VISION: THE DES MOINES ART CENTER, Des Moines Art Center, 1998, ref. & color ill. p.69, color ill. pp.68 & 69
Stephen Westfall, "Deborah Butterfield at Edward Thorp," ART IN AMERICA, Apr. 1987, b/w ill. p.218
