Adrian Gor, "The Artist, The Philosopher, The Emperor, The Saint, and The Socratic Gems," 2024, charcoal and pastel drawing on Arches cotton rag, 76" x 42"
“The impressive size and intricate detail of Gor’s work, created with charcoal, pastel and casein on paper, will intrigue viewers,” said Penny Lutz, gallery director. “Gor’s intense commitment to his art practice will be inspirational to many artists; he works up to 14 hours a day for four days a week. The remaining days are devoted to teaching and research.”
The artist is a diploma coordinator of the fine arts diploma program at the Ottawa School of Art, where he also teaches art history and foundation drawing.
His work unfolds in two modes: “early works deploy implied narratives drawn from portraits and symbols of Western classical masculinity, while later drawings emphasize ‘undone masses’ formed by fragmented and recomposed groupings of historical masculine figures,” as described in the gallery catalog.
“Through my art, I explore the psychological and cultural dimensions of masculinity, reinterpreting traditional and symbolic representations of the human figure,” Gor said. “I draw from classical and medieval forms, postmodern critiques of technology and capitalism, and my personal experiences to challenge conventional values of masculine identity, such as strength, rationality and virility.”
The artist, Lutz said, blends old and new styles to create work that is both thoughtful and visually striking.
“He uses familiar symbols of strength and masculinity – from classical art to pop art – but also takes them apart to show how these ideas influence how we see men today,” Lutz said. “The result encourages viewers to think differently about male identity and how it’s shaped by visual culture.”
Gor holds a master’s degree from the University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, and a doctorate in art history and philosophy from Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, a background that, when paired with his experiences in Romania, has played a critical role in the development of his artwork.
“My art making is rooted in lived experience, where subjective memory intersects with the cultural and historical realities shaped by Eastern and Western visual traditions,” he said. “Having received my early training in post-dictatorship Romania and later pursued graduate studies in Canada, I have inhabited two distinct, yet intertwined worlds – Eastern medieval iconography and Western contemporary artworld.”
The works in the exhibition, he said, emerge from the ongoing negotiation between both worlds – “East and West, faith and irony, tradition and critique – an exploration of how cultural narratives continue to shape, and at times destabilize, the image of the male body in contemporary visual culture.”
Exhibits for The Gallery at Penn College are selected by faculty, staff and artists from the community. The selections are based on quality of work and the strength of the proposal. In addition to the public reception and gallery talk, Gor will offer demonstrations to two Penn College drawing classes during his visit.
The Gallery at Penn College is open from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. It is closed on Mondays and Saturdays.
In addition to serving as an educational resource for Penn College students and a cultural asset to the college and community, The Gallery at Penn College is dedicated to promoting art appreciation through exhibitions of contemporary art.
For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
