MAN OF SORROWS
BRIAN HIBBARD
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth .. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”
Isaiah 53: 3-12
BEFORE THE THRONE
BRIAN HIBBARD
“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, there were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Revelation 4: 1-11
This piece was created for one of my art collectors. He was terminally ill an atheist, and was questioning life after death. 1his was my attempt to present the gospel to him through art. The painting is based on Revelation Chapter 4. 1his is the throne room of God with the sea of glass, cherubim and 24 elders. It represents how we will all one day be accountable before the Lord. In this depiction, the man is laid bare before God, ashamed of his unrighteousness. His reflection on the sea of glass represents his prayer for forgiveness upon seeing the truth of God’s redemptive love and salvation through Christ.
THE MESSIAH
BRIAN HIBBARD
“Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me .. ”
The Messiah piece is one of the first paintings in the series dedicated to bible prophecy. It is a simple depiction of Christ crucified. The ram alludes to the sacrifice offering for Abraham’s son Isaac. One of the many old testament illustrations that foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of God ‘s only Son for the sins of the world.
THE WORD
BRIAN HIBBARD
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome 1t. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John 1:1-14
MARY’S SONG
BRIAN HIBBARD
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Luke 1:46-55
WALK ON WATER
BRIAN HIBBARD
BRIAN HIBBARD When the disciples saw Jesus walking towards them on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He saId, “Come. ” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:26-33
IN THE BEGINNING
BRIAN HIBBARD
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Genesis 1: 1-3
“Remember these things, 0 Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; 0 Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing, 0 heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, 0 depths of the earth; break forth into singing, 0 mountains, 0 forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel. Thus says the LORD, your Redeem.er, who form.ed you from the womb: “I am. the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.”
Isaiah 44:21-24
ABOUT THE ARTIST
BRIAN HIBBARD
Brian Hibbard is a professional painter and sculptor who his actively a part of the southern regional art scene and across the nation for the past 20 years. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting from Winthrop University and his artwork can often be seen in the nations’ most prestigious homes, galleries and public spaces.
Hibbard moved back to the Carolinas from Santa Fe, New Mexico and began working as an apprentice to a nationally recognized sculptor. He designed 40 panels for Greensboro’s Millennium Gate and aided with the fabrication and installation. Soon after Brian Hibbard completed murals for the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Natty Greene’s Restaurant, and YMCA Retreat Center in Black Mountain, NC. This paved the way for other opportunities such as the installation of three gates and two bronze plaques for Greensboro’s new baseball stadium.
Hibbard completed several public art projects for the city of Greensboro such as a mural that overlooks the new Center City Park, a mural project for the Greensboro Historical Museum and a sculpture sign for the Greensboro Natural Science Center. Other cities have come “knocking on his door”. Hibbard completed a mural project for Panera Bread Company in Boston, MA. and a mural for the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta Georgia.
While having success in the public art arena Brian Hibbard is more known for his paintings. He experiments with nontraditional media like tar and resin and emphasizes sculptural elements and abstraction. Birds, Horses and organic figurative works make up his oeuvre of classical, yet modern pieces as well as ethereal tributes to the great outdoors.
Hibbard’s work can be seen at one of his numerous solo exhibitions or at his studio on his farm in Due West, SC. William Brian Hibbard currently shows his work in 9 galleries across the country. He enjoys representation in South Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, Tennessee, Arizona, Massachusetts, Missouri, Texas, Rhode Island and California. He has a growing number of private and corporate collectors.
Brian has received notable attention in several articles written about his work and was featured in Southern Living. Author Orson Scott Card wrote, “Brian Hibbard’s landscapes have an interesting palette of muted colors and copper. His trees and clouds are rimmed with a slight shadowing that is at once representational and yet theatrical. I fell in love with all of his work.” In an article titled, Renaissance Man Carol McCreedy wrote,” like most of his work, Brian Hibbard’s paintings stay with you. The images he creates will forever be ingrained in my mind.”
