Wesley Memeger

Wesley Memeger Jr.

09/21/1939 - 05/13/2024

About the Artist:
Wes Memeger, Ph.D. Chemistry, Adelphi University, spent his career in the Pioneering Research Laboratory, Textile Fibers, and in the Central Research Department at the DuPont Experimental Station. He holds patents in several polymer and fiber chemistry disciplines and has published papers in numerous scientific journals. He is listed in Who's Who in America and in American Men and Women of Science.

Wes’ work has been shown in many solo and group exhibitions in the Delaware Valley and his works are held in several regional collections. Wes has served the Boards of seven local arts organizations including the Delaware Art Museum and the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts. In 2007, he was honored with a Christi Award for Philanthropic Activities in the Arts by the Christiana Cultural Arts Center.

Artist's Statement:
The art I create is informed by my career in the chemical sciences and decades of contemplating the square. In both science and art, I have been drawn to the shape of things and to thinking about things that are geometric. While working as a chemist, I read and thought intensely about the art of abstract painters and became actively involved in art-making myself. Also, during this time, my wife and I began collecting abstract and nonrepresentational works by regional Delaware artists. Overall, I would say that the simultaneous thinking about, looking at, collecting, and creating art, greatly expanded my thinking. For me, the transition between science, chemistry, and art is virtually seamless.

When you look at my art, you come to realize that my works are based in part on scientific principles. Generally, I start with a square and then carry out a series of manipulations. I may distort the square in some way (e.g., twisting, elongating, rounding) and I may divide or multiply it. In carrying out these manipulations, I move away from the square or even a simple derivative of the square, and transform it into something energized, something dynamic.

Delaware Art Museum

Memeger - Delaware Art Museum