The exhibition title, This and That, reflects Grote’s expansive and site-responsive practice, bringing together works that bridge various locations and materials from throughout his career. Central to Grote’s creative process is the influence of environment; for years, the artist has found stimulation by working outside his Louisiana studio, allowing the “newness and freshness” of different geographies to dictate new directions in his art.

The show features a selection of mixed-media sculptures, including pieces from his “R OBJ” and “SF OBJ” series. The “R” series (Rope Objects) originated from his 2011 exhibition Is it S or is it Z?, where Grote deconstructed utilitarian rope—a material tied to the history of the American West—into objects of “unknown ritual”. By fraying, burning, and shaping mundane materials, Grote transforms discarded objects into artifacts that resonate with both humor and whimsy. This exhibition showcases his mastery in elevating local discarded materials to the level of high art, creating a “natural history” of the places he has inhabited.

Mark Grote is a Professor of Sculpture at Loyola University New Orleans, where he previously served as Chairman of the Visual Arts Department. He earned his MFA from Washington University in St. Louis and has spent over thirty years teaching and working in Louisiana.

A distinguished sculptor, Grote is the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship to the University of Plymouth in England, as well as prestigious grants from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Joan Mitchell Foundation. His work is included in numerous public and private collections, including the New Orleans Museum of Art (Arts Council of New Orleans), the Dayton Museum of Art, and the Mississippi Museum of Art.