Graphic Works by Richard Kersting in the Rare Book Room

Buffalo artist and printmaker Richard F. Kersting (http://www.kerstingart.com/index.htm) was once a librarian in the Language, Literature and Fine Arts Department of the Central Library in the 1970’s and early 1980’s.  Specializing in realism, surrealism and symbolism in miniature formats, Mr. Kersting is a member of the Fine Arts League of Buffalo and the Buffalo Society of Artists, and is currently represented by the Meibohm Fine Arts Gallery (http://www.meibohmfinearts.com/artists.aspx?ID=41).

In 1989, he generously donated a collection of graphic works to the Rare Book Room, consisting of over 40 etchings and 1 drawing of particular interest to those of us who have witnessed the ever-changing appearance of the downtown Central library.  The drawing, dated 1964, depicts a portion of the newly constructed library building and shows the modern furniture which has since been updated to a more contemporary design.

 

Kersting – Untitled [Central Library] 1964

Mr. Kersting’s works are held by numerous individual collectors, as well as the Burchfield Penney Art Center (https://www.burchfieldpenney.org/artists/artist:richard-kersting/), and the Rare Book Room is proud to have his works represented among such other local artists as J. J. Lankes and William Schwanekamp.

 

Five more of Mr. Kersting’s engravings were recently discovered here in the library and among them was a linocut portrait of him created by former Library Director Paul M. Rooney (1975-1983) for an exhibit of Kersting’s works here in the library.

Young man with press