Texas Artist Harry Geffert, 1934-2017

by Paula Newton November 13, 2017

Texas Artist Harry Geffert died recently, as is reported on his Facebook page, which is filled with condolences from friends, fellow artists, and former students. Geffert was born in 1934 in Live Oak County, TX (between Corpus Christi and San Antonio), and lived in Crowley, TX.  Perhaps his gallery, Dallas’ Cris Worley Fine Arts, provides the best description on its website of his long-standing impact on the Texas art scene:

Geffert’s legendary reputation establishes him as an expert sculptor, educator and major contributor to the continuum of Texas art history. In his over fifty-year career, he has had numerous solo museum exhibitions, an NEA grant, and a Legend Award from the Dallas Visual Art Center. Geffert also established the sculpture department at Texas Christian University and fostered many aspiring artists there through 27 years of teaching. In the 1980’s Geffert left academia and started his own Green Mountain Foundry in Crowley, Texas. There he produced impeccable bronze castings for artists Joseph Havel, Linda Ridgway, James Surls, Vernon Fisher, Frances Bagley, Ken Little, Clyde Connell, and others and soon established his as the foremost foundry in Texas. At age 65, Geffert closed the foundry to other artists to focus solely on his own artistic interests.

We hope to release more details and news of any memorial service as soon as they are released. To read Glasstire’s glowing reviews of his work over the years, go here.

 

Correction 11/13/17: this article has been updated to reflect that the name of the county where Geffert was born is Live Oak County, TX.

 

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3 comments

Cathy Crossland November 13, 2017 - 20:47

Harry Geffert was my uncle and I wanted to correct his place of birth was Live Oak County, TX rather than Oak County. He graduated from Three Rivers High School in Three Rivers, TX.

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Keith Baker May 16, 2019 - 14:41

Harry Geffert was an inspiration to everyone who ever met him. He was a great Artist and person. He was my home room teacher in the 7th grade and later in life my friend. He was a mentor to me who taught me Art was 10% talent and 90% sweat.

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Don Henry January 22, 2022 - 17:54

I just read Keith Bakers post and I too was in “Mr. Gefferts” home room and I want to say I have never met a more gifted person than Harry. He was a master in any media and I will never forget him.

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