Jonathan Hertzel

"If we could see the universe as Hertzel does, we would see more unity than division. We would see a gathering of dynamic forces rather than a static collection of unrelated ideas"
-Brian H. Peterson

Sculptor Jonathan Hertzel works largely in bronze, making abstract sculptures that relate to the structures and processes of life. He starts with a signature DNA-like design, from which grow shapes that suggest both human and animal forms as well as the patterns of nature. “My work has a spiral sort of motion,” he says, “things turning within themselves and back out again, back within and out again.” The Swiss Surrealist Sculptor Alberto Giacometti is one of his major influences.

Hertzel says, “I do feel that human form is really a conduit, a type of organic machinery gathering energy that is harnessed and expressed.”

As part of its ongoing Outdoor Sculpture Program, the Michener Art Museum presented an installation of sculpture by Hertzel called The Gathering in 2005.

The exhibition Jonathan Hertzel: When Sparks Fly highlights the artist's work in watercolor alongside one of his dynamic bronze sculptures, Adam Splitting. A former, longtime resident of Bucks County, Hertzel recently moved to Santa Fe with his wife, fellow artist Linda Guenste. The change in location has prompted a shift in both medium and subject matter for Hertzel, turning from oils and bronze to more portable watercolor, which has allowed the artist to work rapidly and with great expression. His distinctive swirling, organic forms are still present but now in an updated color palette and with an entirely new character

Hertzel was trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and at Alfred University. His work has been exhibited at the Woodmere Art Museum, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Major Solo Exhibitions
Jonathan Hertzel: When Sparks Fly, Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA, 2016
The Lowe Gallery, Atlanta GA, 2005
THE GATHERING, Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA, Chaos and Crossroads, 2005
Works in Bronze and Clay, Atelier, Frenchtown, NJ, 2001
Two Sculptors, Madelon Powers Gallery, East Stroudsburg University, PA, 2000
What Out of Earth, Foxglove Gallery, Stroudsburg, PA, 2000
From the Sun to the Earth to the Mantle Shift, AFA Gallery, Scranton, PA, 1999
The Roots Aloft: Our Common Ground, ARTSPACE 534, Stroudsburg, PA, 1997
The Shape Of Things To Come, ARTSPACE 534, Stroudsburg, PA, 1993
Planetary Skies and Aliens, Medici Center for the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 1993
Members Feature Exhibition, ARTSPACE 534, Stroudsburg, PA, 1992
Aliens From The Home Planet, Hartnet Gallery, University of Rochester, NY, 1992
Aliens From The Home Planet, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA, 1991
Starling Artspace, Stroudsburg, PA, 1991
Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA, 1990
Bixler Gallery, Stroudsburg, PA, 1990
Members Feature Show, Open Space Gallery, Allentown, PA, 1990
Paintings, Sculptures & Environments, Third Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 1984

Group Exhibitions
Buckingham Valley Vineyard 4th Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, 2005
Trimbur Henery Gallery, Doylestown, PA, 2005
New Hope Sculpture Show, New Hope, PA, 2004
22nd Annual Ellarslie Open, Trenton City Museum, NJ, 2004
Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA, 2003
Phillips' Mill Annual Juried Art Exhibition, New Hope, PA, 2003
15 Exposures: US Artists, PAFA Alumni National Juried Exhibition, Armory, Philadelphia, PA, 2002
Art Of The State, Sesquehanna Museum of Art, Harrisburg, PA, 2002; Millville, NJ; Stockton College
Artist As Teacher, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA, 2002
Ellarsie State Art Museum Invitational, Trenton, NJ, 2002
Five Sculptors, Hoopla Gallery, Bethlehem, PA, 2001
Considine Studios, Lansdale, PA, 2001
24th Annual Bucks County Sculpture Show, Byers Choice, Chalfont, PA, 2001
Phillips’ Mill Annual Art Exhibition, New Hope, PA, 2000
The Arts Bridge, Stockton, NJ, 2001
River Run Gallery, Lambertville, NJ, 2000
Woodmere Museum, Jurried Exhibition, Chestnut Hill, PA, 2000
23rd Annual Bucks County Sculpture Show, Doylestown Hospital, Doylestown, PA, 2000
Phillips’ Mill Art Exhibition, Phillips' Mill, New Hope, PA, 2000
Phillips' Mill Annual Juried Exhibition, New Hope, PA, 1999
Louise Melrose Gallery, Buckingham, PA, 1999
Foxglove Gallery, Stroudsburg, PA, 1999
Clay Today, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA, 1998
Faculty Exhibition, Baum School of Art, Allentown, PA, 1998
Monroe County Arts Council Exhibition, Stroudsburg, PA, 1998
100th Anniversary Fellowship Select Exhibition, Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA, 1998
98th Juried Exhibition of The Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, 1998
Rodger Lapelle Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 1998
Faculty Exhibition Baum School of Art, Allentown, PA, 1997
Juried Exhibition, Muhlenberg College Center For The Arts, Allentown, PA, 1997
Monroe County Council of The Arts, Mt. Pocono, PA, 1997
Art Of The State, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA, 1997
Award Winners of The 97th Fellowship Exhibition, Museum Of American Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 1997
Outside In, Open Space Gallery, Allentown, PA, 1997
Regional Art Retrospective, Marywood College, Scranton, PA, 1997
Exhibition of TV, Rodger LaPelle Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 1994
97th Juried Exhibition of The Fellowship of The Academy of The Fine Art, The American College, Bryn Mawr, PA, 1994
Lehigh Valley Arts Alliance Juried Exhibition, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA, 1994
Regional Art '94, Marywood College, Scranton, PA, 1994
Juried Exhibition, Muhlenberg College Center For The Arts, Allentown, PA, 1994
Monroe County Arts Council Members Exhibition, Stroudsburg, PA, 1994
Philadelphia International Contemporary Art Competition, Philadelphia, PA, 1994
Rodger LaPelle Gallery & Pentimenti Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 1993
Natural Dialogue, California Crafts Museum, San Francisco, CA, 1993
Juried Exhibition, Muhlenberg College Center For The Art, Allentown, PA, 1993
Art of the State, State Museum Of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA, 1993

Education
B.A. in History, University Of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 1973-1977
Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 1979-1981
Alfred University, Ceramic Figurative Workshop, Alfred, NY, 1996

Teachers and Influences
Alberto Giacometti

Connections to Bucks County
Jonathan Hertzel has exhibited his bronze and clay sculptures in various Bucks County venues, including the Michener Art Museum and the Phillips' Mill Annual Art Exhibition in New Hope.
Jonathan and his wife, fellow Bucks County painter and artist Linda Guentste, shared a home and studio north of Lake Galena in Chalfont, Bucks County for many years. They moved to Santa Fe in 2015.

Collections
Barth Rubin, Budget Motel Stroudsburg, PA
Rudy & Rose Ackerman, Baum School Of Art, Allentown, PA
DDS Steve & Tamar Olitsky, Lansdale, PA
Peppi Elona & Wendy Surkis, Sarasota, FL
Dr. Bob Lovett, Allentown, PA
Pennsylvania Acadamy of The Fine Arts Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Silverman Family Partnership, Doylestown, PA
Baum School Of Art, Allentown, PA
Aurthur Kaplan esq., Philadelphia, PA
Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA
Plus, numerous private collections

Selected Awards
New Exhibitor Anonymous, Phillips' Mill, New Hope, PA, 1999
Ceramic Sculpture Award, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA, 1997
1st Prize Sculpture, Monroe County Arts Exhibition, Stroudsburg, PA, 1994, 1995, 1997
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Fellowship Purchase Prize, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 1992

Teaching and Professional Appointments
The Art Barge, Amagansett, NY, 1998-1999
The Baum School of Art, Allentown, PA, 1994-1999
Lehigh Carbon County Community College, 1994-1999
Pennsylvania roster artist for Arts in Education, 1991-2000
Pennsylvania Regional Governor's School for Artistic Excellence, The Baum School of Art, 1994-1998