Paul Sharits (1943-1993)

In this series, exhibited originally in The Artists Gallery in Buffalo in 1985, Sharits incorporated the title, or portions of the letters comprising the title, within the work. The title, Prêté, could be a portion of the word “Pretend,” or it could have another meaning, perhaps from French or another language. (Prêté is an adjective that means lent. Prétendant means claimant, suitor, or pretender [to the throne]. Prétendre means to claim, to lay claim to; to mean; affirm; to aspire. Prétendu means pretended, supposed, sham, so-called, would-be; future husband or wife. And so on.

With Only, these two triptych murals had been installed in Hallwalls’ screening room and were removed when the Tri-Main Building was vacated. Since Hallwalls doesn’t maintain a collection, they offered them to the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. The museum also owns a piece from the same exhibition, Insectual, 1985, acrylic on canvas with shag rug, 5 pieces: 96 x 177 inches, Gift of Christopher and Cheri Sharits, 1994, 1994.021.002