Work samples

  • Cave Rave Mural
    Cave Rave Mural
  • 14.jpg
    14.jpg
    "The Archives of the Museum of Pre-History" consists of all works on paper , prints and drawings, and is the core of research for ancient signs and symbols that become the "artifacts" or "restorations" of ancient objects that make up the collection of the"Museum of Pre-History".
  • 1Entablatures of the Sun and Moon
    1"Entablatures of the Sun and Moon"
    The nine "Entablatures of the Sun" on the left are balanced with the nine "Entablatures of the Moon"on the right. The three neon "Stones of the Sun and Moon" are the core for bringing together these astrological male and female symbols. The "Entablatures" represent the third age of man known as "Bronze Age Beauty" in the Museum.
  • Phase 2 of Monument to the Cosmic Serpent
    Phase 2 of Monument to the Cosmic Serpent
    Installation view #4 This artifact, acquired by The Museum in 2013, represents 3000 years of neolithic symbols found on sites in Brittany, France. Phase 2 restores the site of Gavrinis, dating from 3000 to 2500 BC

About Quentin

QUENTIN B. MOSELEY    5701 Pimlico Road      Baltimore, Maryland  21209     410 868 8165

[email protected]

bakerartist.org/portfolios/quentinmoseley

Instagram: @themuseumofprehistory

Quentin Moseley is Faculty Emeritus at the Maryland Institute College of Art after retiring from MICA in 2020. He has been chair of the Printmaking Department,… more

Cave Rave

“CAVE RAVE” is the central artifact of “The Caveman’s Dictionary”, only a small portion of a large body of work that the artist entitles “The Museum of Pre-History”. The Museum explores the psychological development of human kind through “Archives” and “Artifacts” drawn and built from experience of site explorations in Europe and research by the artist. The artist visited 8 Paleo-lithic cave sites in France and Spain for inspiration for developing “The Caveman’s Dictionary”.
 
During its installation, “Cave Rave” becomes a “performing painting/installation” that is an imaginary archeological puzzle of a paleo-lithic cave painting. The painting is changed by the artist during exhibition to explore meaning and the balance between language and abstraction vs. perception and intent. The artist explores the use of archeology in puzzling together insights into who and what we are. During the exhibition, the artist continually changes versions of the two- layered painting.  A culminating performance (20 minutes), entitled “The Incantation of The Caveman’s Manifesto” is used to bring together the puzzle and explain the meaning of “Cave Rave” and the magic of “The Caveman’s Dictionary”. The painting is physically changed from abstraction to representation during the performance, as the artist reveals the meaning of each of the 13 puzzle pieces as well as revealing a piece of who and what we are as creatures on earth.
 
The two layers of “Cave Rave” (8’x 16’ overall) are built from a substructure of wood, with sculpted insulation-foam layers, painted with water base paints and glazes.

  • Cave Rave- Please double click image for GIF animation
    Cave Rave- Please double click image for GIF animation
    Please double click image for GIF animation
  • Drawings and Templates
    Drawings and Templates
  • 13 Puzzle Pieces
    13 Puzzle Pieces
  • Abstract Language bottom layer
    Abstract Language bottom layer
  • Cave Rave Combo
    Cave Rave Combo
  • Cave Mural top layer
    Cave Mural top layer

The Museum of Pre-History Installation Time Lapse

A quick time lapse video of the installation of "The Museum of Pre-History" at the Creative Alliance, Baltimore, Maryland, August 2013. The Museum contains many artifacts restored by artist Quentin Moseley for the three major collections of the museum: "The Caveman's Dictionary", "Neolithic Neon", and "Bronze Age Beauty".
Video/Editing/Installation Crew:
Olivia Moseley
Lucas Haroldson
Jack Rust
Sid Young
Julia Rivera
Jason Mulan
  • Museum Of Pre history

Caveman Constructions

Each of these artifact/restorations comprising "Caveman Constructions" comes from one of several bodies of work (excavations or digs) comprising the paleolithic collection of The Museum of Pre-History known as "The Caveman's Dictionary".

"The Caveman's Dictionary" consists of: Caveman Story Stones, Caveman Codex Stones, The Power of Three Stones, Paleo- Couples, and others.
  • Equinox
    Equinox
    from series "Neolithic Nudes" acrylic on wood construction with neon 1994 artifact: 44x50"x11" crate: 51x54x14
  • Equinox
    Equinox
    from series "Neolithic Nudes" acrylic on wood construction with neon 50"x44"x11" 1994 (photo taken with ambient light)
  • Power of the Bull
    Power of the Bull
    from series "Caveman Story Stones" acrylic on wood construction 2004 artifact: 40x46x6 crate: 44x48x10
  • Signs from Comanna
    Signs from Comanna
    acrylic and veneer on wood construction 1994 49"x32"x8"
  • Original Odalisque
    Original Odalisque
    from series : "Neolithic Nudes" acrylic on wood with neon construction 1994 45"x45"x6" (photo taken with ambient light)
  • Original Odalisque
    Original Odalisque
    from series : "Neolithic Nudes" acrylic on wood with neon construction 1994 artifact: 45"x45"x6" crate: 51x44x10
  • Five Charms for Female Magic
    Five Charms for Female Magic
    (two birds, two hermaphrodites, and a death stick) from "Caveman Codex Stones" acrylic on wood construction artifact: 35x43x5 crate: 43x48x10"
  • Five Charms for Male Magic
    Five Charms for Male Magic
    from "Caveman Codex Stones" Acrylic on wood construction Artifact: 38"x38"x5" Storage Crate: 51"x48"x10"
  • Blood and Milk
    Blood and Milk
    from "Caveman Story Stones" acrylic on wood construction 2004 artifact: 54x42x7 crate: 51x54x14
  • The Original Blue Nude
    The Original Blue Nude
    (Reclining Woman with man, horse, smirking auroche, and tool for The Bringing Together) from series "Caveman Story Stones" acrylic on wood construction 2010 artifact: 53"x38"x5" storage crate: 63"x48"x10"

Caveman Drawings

Each of the "Caveman Drawings" supports research for the restorations of the "Caveman Constructions" and are called collectively "The Caveman's Dictionary".

"The Caveman's Dictionary" consists of:
Dig #1: Caveman Story Stones,
Dig #2: Caveman Codex Stones,
Dig #3: Title Stones for "The Caveman's Dictionary"
Dig #4: The Power of Three Together Stones,
Dig #5: The Original Caveman Murals
Dig #6: The Power of Two Together (Paleo-Couples)
Dig #7: The Wall of Mostly Female Figures
Dig #8: The Wall of Mostly Male Figures

Each of the drawing series has three to nine variations to elaborate the subjects of the Museum's excavations or digs.
  • Three Mojo Sticks Standing
    Three Mojo Sticks Standing
    charcoal, pastel collage 23" 34" approx. 2010 From: Dig #4: Power of the Three (or More) Stones
  • Two Mojo Sticks Working
    Two Mojo Sticks Working
    charcoal, pastel collage 26"x 34" approx. 2010 From: Dig #4: Power of the Three (or More) Stones
  • Dancing with The Owl Sticks
    Dancing with The Owl Sticks
    charcoal, pastel collage 32"x32" approx. 2010 From: Dig #4: Power of the Three (or More) Stones
  • Green Neo Venus
    Green Neo Venus
    Green Neolithic Venus with Stick of Gathering, Polished Stone Tools with sign for Fertility and Union. From: Dig #1, Story Stones from The Caveman's Dictionary 24"x34" approx charcoal, acrylic ink 2010
  • Five Magic Tools
    Five Magic Tools
    Five Magic Tools for Gathering with Euglenatic Hermaphrodites and Sleeping Bull From: Dig #1, Story Stones from The Caveman's Dictionary 24"x34" approx charcoal, acrylic ink 2010
  • White Odalisque
    White Odalisque
    White Odalisque of the Turning Buck and Begging Rabbit Mojo Stick From: Dig #1, Story Stones from The Caveman's Dictionary 24"x34" approx charcoal, acrylic ink 2010
  • Blue Venus
    Blue Venus
    Blue Venus of Winter with Bison and Buck and Three Strange Mammoths From: Dig #1, Story Stones from The Caveman's Dictionary 24"x34" approx charcoal, acrylic ink 2010
  • Magic Hands
    Magic Hands
    Magic Hands with Herd of Deer, French Tickler, and Other Erotic Devices From: Dig #1, Story Stones from The Caveman's Dictionary 24"x34" approx charcoal, acrylic ink 2010
  • Batons de Commandment
    Batons de Commandment
    14 Batons de Commandment decorated with Male and Female Figures acrylic ink and charcoal collage approx 28"x40" 2010
  • Venus Figures
    Venus Figures
    "14 Venus Figures of all Shapes, Sized for Equality" from: Dig #2, Codex Stones of the Caveman's Dictionary 28"x42" charcoal and acrylic ink 2010

Neolithic Neon (The Stones of Morbihan)

These artifact restorations are based on visits to the ancient menhirs and dolmens of Brittany, some of the oldest megalithic sites in Europe dating from 4500 BC. Many of these sites surround the Gulf of Morbihan, where the amazing site of Gavrinis resides on an island in the middle of the Gulf.

The series is called collectively, "The Stones of Morbihan" or descriptively: Neolithic Neon
  • Mane er Hroeck (Shadow Stone)
    Mane er Hroeck (Shadow Stone)
    Excavation Series: The Stones of Morbihon Acrylic on wood construction with neon 1999 33"x44"x6" approx
  • Mane Lud  (Gathering Stone)
    Mane Lud (Gathering Stone)
    Excavation Series: The Stones of Morbihon Acrylic on wood construction with neon 1999 33"x44"x6" approx
  • Le Manio Sous Terre
    Le Manio Sous Terre
    Excavation Series: The Stones of Morbihon Acrylic on wood construction with neon 1999 33"x44"x6" approx
  • Le Manio Sous Terre
    Le Manio Sous Terre
    Excavation Series: The Stones of Morbihon Acrylic on wood construction with neon 1999 33"x44"x6" approx
  • Mane Rutual (Protector Stone)
    Mane Rutual (Protector Stone)
    Excavation Series: The Stones of Morbihon Acrylic on wood construction with neon 1999 33"x44"x6" approx (photo with ambient light)
  • mane rutual (Protector Stone)
    mane rutual (Protector Stone)
    Excavation Series: The Stones of Morbihon Acrylic on wood construction with neon 1999 33"x44"x6" approx
  • Installation view: Stones
    Installation view: Stones
    Exhibition entitled "Stones" Loyola University, Baltimore 2001 including prints, drawings, and neon constructions
  • Gavrinis (Stone #18)
    Gavrinis (Stone #18)
    Excavation Series: The Stones of Morbihon Acrylic on wood construction with neon 1999 33"x44"x6" approx
  • Mane Roullarde (Oracle Stone)
    Mane Roullarde (Oracle Stone)
    Excavation Series: The Stones of Morbihon Acrylic on wood construction with neon 1999 33"x44"x6" approx

Neolithic Monuments

All of the images in this excavation,
reference the positioning of an upright megalithic stone (menhir)
with an upright sculptural form referencing a figure
on a base platform or plinth.
  • Shaman
    Shaman
    constructed screenprint approx. 16"x20"x1"
  • Protector
    Protector
    constructed screenprint approx. 16"x20"x1"
  • Monument II
    Monument II
    acrylic, veneer on wood construction with neon 18"x24" approx
  • Monumant III
    Monumant III
    acrylic, veneer on wood construction approx 24"x 34" x 6"
  • Venus and Baton
    Venus and Baton
    Collagraph Construction
  • In Shadow of Stones II
    In Shadow of Stones II
    collagraph construction
  • In the Shadow of Stones II
    In the Shadow of Stones II
  • In the Shadow of Stones I
    In the Shadow of Stones I

Neolithic Prints

Several series of Neolithic Prints have supported the research for Neolithic Neon.

These include:

Relief Prints: "The Stones of Morbihan", "The Stones of Gavrinis, "The Monument of Morbihan"
Collagraph Prints: "The Menhirs of Morbihan"
  • Gavrinis II
    Gavrinis II
    from series "Gavrinis", one of six images, edition of 3 each 11"x14", relief print, Oil on paper
  • Gavrinis I
    Gavrinis I
    from series "Gavrinis", one of six images, edition of 3 each 11"x14", relief print, Oil on paper
  • Monument of Morbihan II
    Monument of Morbihan II
    from a series of 6 relief prints, edition of 10 11"x14", oil on paper
  • Monument of Morbihan I
    Monument of Morbihan I
    from a series of 6 relief prints, edition of 10 11"x14", oil on paper
  • Petit Mont II
    Petit Mont II
    Stone with Ax 11"x14", collagraph, edition 6 , oil on paper
  • Petit Mont I
    Petit Mont I
    Stone with Feet 11"x14", collagraph, edition 6 , oil on paper
  • Mane Rutual (Protector Stone)
    Mane Rutual (Protector Stone)
    Soul form with Plow and Baton relief print 22"x30", oil on paper, Edition of 3
  • Pierre Plattes (Cosmic Tree)
    Pierre Plattes (Cosmic Tree)
    Soul form as Cosmic Tree relief print 22"x30", oil on paper, Edition of 3
  • Pierre Plattes 4
    Pierre Plattes 4
    Soul Forms (Mother and Child) 11"x14", collagraph, edition 6 , oil on paper
  • Petit Mont III
    Petit Mont III
    Serpent Vessel with Soul Forms 11"x14", collagraph, edition 6 , oil on paper

"Baltimore Gateway": commission for Light City, Baltimore, Maryland 2016

"Gateway Baltimore", a slow moving animated neon mural installation  was commissioned by and developed for Light City Baltimore, 2016......the first  international light art festival of the city.
This piece was created out of a modular system of 6' sticks and 4'  circles of neon to bring together a  frieze of neon that speaks of change and unity and bringing together......a metaphor for Baltimore itself  as it searches for new definitions of working for a united front in dealing with the challenges we confront together.
The  structure and neon components of this mural can be re-arranged into any configuration the artist chooses for re-installation, preferably on the parapets of high rooftops of  buildings that can be viewed from great distance, inviting one to the location for close-up viewing.
Compare this installation to other animated neon projects/murals in the "Night Drawing" section.....many installeded in Baltimore, as well as other cities.
  • LIGHT CITY QUENTIN MOSELEY

Night Drawing

During the 1980s these large scale, outdoor public art pieces were temporarily installed under the name of "Night Drawing".
They started as an undergraduate design project at Syracuse (1969) with a modular system of 6' sticks of yellow neon and some 24" red squares.
The largest piece to date was two 8'x100' animated murals in multi colors on either side of the 26th story of a building in Miami.
Night Drawings were temporarily installed in Philadelphia, Portland Maine, Memphis Tennessee, Miami Florida and many in Baltimore, MD.
  • QLC_8.jpg
    QLC_8.jpg
    Still shot (time detail) of "Gateway Baltimore", modular neon animated mural at Pier 4, Pratt Street, Baltimore for Light City Baltimore, 2016.
  • QLC_4.jpg
    QLC_4.jpg
    "Gateway Baltimore", Light City Baltimore 2016. Time detail of animated modular neon frieze, installed at Pier 4, Pratt Street. Front view from Partt Street
  • Night Dragon detail
    Night Dragon detail
  • Night Dragon
    Night Dragon
    8'x50' animated abstract image suggesting a fire breathing dragon, honoring Phaladelphia's China Town, a few blocks away
  • Alex's Neon
    Alex's Neon
    North and Charles, Baltimore, Md
  • memphis.jpg
    memphis.jpg
  • Neon for Monument Square, detail
    Neon for Monument Square, detail
  • Neon for Monument Square
    Neon for Monument Square
    Installed on 1 City Center, Portland, Maine. 2006
  • Cosmic Candy
    Cosmic Candy
    Fox Building, Md. Institute College of Art Baltimore, MD. 1986
  • Mt. Royal Neon
    Mt. Royal Neon
    One night stand for the Opening of a faculty Exhibit. All moving with an animated chase system

Day Sign/ Night Sign

These constructions and prints relate to the shapes and action of the large scale animated neon "Night Drawings" of the same time period.
The smaller scale allowed the exploration of a number of different references for the forms that were of interest at the time.
  • Taxi Slab
    Taxi Slab
    offset lithograph, 22x30
  • Sowebo
    Sowebo
    offset lithograph, 22x30
  • Calvert Cliffs
    Calvert Cliffs
    enamel on board , 30"x40"x4"
  • Splash Down
    Splash Down
    enamel on board , 30"x40"x4"
  • Gae's Lovers
    Gae's Lovers
    acrylic on wood with neon 18"x36"x30" approx.
  • Gae's Lovers
    Gae's Lovers
    acrylic on wood with neon 18"x36"x30" approx.
  • Wall Scrawl
    Wall Scrawl
    offset lithograph, 22x30
  • Frenum's Delight
    Frenum's Delight
    5'x8'x12" indoor neon construction
  • Wind Walk
    Wind Walk
    offset lithograph, 22x30
  • Psi Walk
    Psi Walk
    offset lithograph, 22x30