Dumont’s childhood introduction to a vibrant, experimental art world, as well as a single-mindedness to express a unique vision, show in every stroke on the canvas. Exactitude in stretching canvas or preparing maple, determination to use only the best materials, and the rigor of studies and structure before beginning that first brush stroke creates extraordinary finished works. Dumont’s artworks have been featured in museum and gallery shows, on film, and in corporate headquarters, luxury department stores, hospitals, offices and private collections.
Dumont was raised in a family that had, on both sides, the legacy of extraordinary art. From Dumont’s paternal side, Great Uncle Joseph Margulies, known for his portraits and seascapes, has paintings in many collections including the Library of Congress, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Portrait Gallery. On Dumont’s maternal side, Great Uncle Mark Rothko is known as a lion of an artist, always experimenting and pushing boundaries. Although having the benefit of growing up surrounded by artistic greatness, Dumont realized early on that the artist must strike out to express the uniqueness of vision that is their own. In Dumont’s world, that vision is a range of shapes and colors that burst with energy and joy.
Disciplined study of drawing and structure at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University (SMFA Boston) gave Dumont the structure or the bones needed to create. Dumont always felt as if process were born to an artist. For Dumont, neither layers of emotional color nor bonds to realism felt adequate to express what was seen and felt. While studying at SMFA Boston, Dumont discovered the work of Frankenthaler and immediately sensed a jumping off point for the artist’s own work.
Since that discovery, Dumont has grown into an artist with an unparalleled mastery of color. Using more or less structure ranging from abstract paintings to representational expressionism, the work always exudes a feeling of the essence under the structure. It is the universal energy under what we see that connects us to Dumont’s work and to one another. Uncle Joseph once turned Dumont’s work upside down and looked at it quizzically. Righting the painting, he turned to the young artist with a satisfied smile and said, “Just keep doing what you’re doing.”
Dumont’s move from the Northeast to Austin brings vast and youthful energy to the art. Whether swimming in cold water springs, walking in infinite sunshine or just soaking in the iconic “Keep Austin Weird” vibe of the city, Dumont is filled with endless sources of inspiration. Already an icon in the Texas art world, Dumont is looking forward to expanding into national and international markets.