Jesse Lott’s work is grounded in an approach to art that he calls Urban Frontier Art. His approach involves the recycling of discarded urban material into art, an approach that has serious social implications. Lott’s art goes even further because it communicates a profound spirituality. We would venture to say that in its profound simplicity, it epitomizes African American spirituality. Lott’s work has been widely exhibited in Texas, throughout the South, and in three museums in New York City, most notably in a three-man exhibition at The Studio Museum in Harlem.
Lott’s mythological beings, heroes, and ordinary people symbolize the emotional, i.e., the pain and spiritual dimensions of the human being. The same rigorous aesthetic unity and spiritual depth found in these sculptures is epitomized by his abstract collages. Lott’s shaman-like presence in the art community of Houston has had a wide ranging impact. He has influenced many artists, including Texas artists as well known as James Surls and Bert Long. The all-ages workshops that he has held over the years in his studio as a community service have inspired many students who would otherwise have no exposure to art. Lott has also been involved in the genesis and aesthetic orientation of a number of significant community activities, such as, Adept, the first museum devoted to African American culture in Houston, The Midtown Art Center, the Ann Robinson Gallery and the Art Car Museum. Lott’s community oriented philosophy and his Artists in Action program helped spark the creation of the now famous Project Row House.
