About the Artist
"Dean of the Heartland School of Landscape PainterS"
-William Struve, Kemper Collection Catalog
Biographical Statement
Harold Gregor gained national prominence in the early 1970's within the Photo-realism movement, turning to farm structures and the sweeping horizon of the rural Midwest for inspiration. Along with the realist landscape depictions, this Bloomington, Illinois, artist is also known for his unusual Flatscape paintings which combine an aerial perspective with unique color choices to suggest an essential Midwestern landscape.
In 1995, upon retirement, Gregor began exploring a third aspect called "trail" paintings -- colorful abstract paintings derived from scenes of a local walking trail. He continues to paint and show all four modes: realist panoramas, colorful aerial Flatscapes, energetic abstract "trail" paintings, and his latest effort Vibrascapes.
Gregor, a native of Detroit, Michigan, received his BS from Wayne State University, his MS from Michigan State University, and his doctorate from Ohio State University.
Among many distinctions, he is the recipient of a 1993-1994 National Endowment of the Arts grant and a NEA Midwest Fellowship. In 1993 he was awarded the Illinois Academy of Fine Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. Gregor's work is represented in important public and private collections throughout the United States and Europe. Gregor is a Distinguished Professor, Emeritus at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois.
He is represented by Richard Gray Gallery in Chicago, Illinois; Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Dallas, Texas; Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery in New York City, and Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In 1995, upon retirement, Gregor began exploring a third aspect called "trail" paintings -- colorful abstract paintings derived from scenes of a local walking trail. He continues to paint and show all four modes: realist panoramas, colorful aerial Flatscapes, energetic abstract "trail" paintings, and his latest effort Vibrascapes.
Gregor, a native of Detroit, Michigan, received his BS from Wayne State University, his MS from Michigan State University, and his doctorate from Ohio State University.
Among many distinctions, he is the recipient of a 1993-1994 National Endowment of the Arts grant and a NEA Midwest Fellowship. In 1993 he was awarded the Illinois Academy of Fine Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. Gregor's work is represented in important public and private collections throughout the United States and Europe. Gregor is a Distinguished Professor, Emeritus at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois.
He is represented by Richard Gray Gallery in Chicago, Illinois; Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Dallas, Texas; Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery in New York City, and Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Teaching Experience
Illinois State University. Normal, Illinois
Distinguished Professor of Art. 1970-1995.
Emeritus and Adjunct. 1995-current.
Chapman College. Orange, California
Head of Department
Associate Professor of Art. 1966-1970.
Purdue University. West Lafayette, Indiana
Assistant Professor of Art. 1963-1966.
San Diego State University. San Diego, California.
Assistant Professor of Art. 1960-1963.
Distinguished Professor of Art. 1970-1995.
Emeritus and Adjunct. 1995-current.
Chapman College. Orange, California
Head of Department
Associate Professor of Art. 1966-1970.
Purdue University. West Lafayette, Indiana
Assistant Professor of Art. 1963-1966.
San Diego State University. San Diego, California.
Assistant Professor of Art. 1960-1963.
Grants and Awards
2006 Lifetime Achievement Award. Watercolor Honor Society.
1993-94 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
1993 Lifetime Achievement Award. Illinois Academy of Fine Arts.
1990 Board Member. Watercolor Honor Society
1989 Burlington-Northern Award for Outstanding College Teaching
1988 Distinguished Professor. Illinois State University. ISU. Normal, Illinois
Researcher Grant Outstanding University Researcher Award. ISU. Normal, Illinois
1986 National Endowment for the Arts. Arts Midwest Regional Visual Arts Fellowship
Creative Researcher Recognition Award. ISU. Normal, Illinois
1985 Watercolor Honor Society. Charter Member
Distinguished Teacher Award. College of Fine Arts. ISU. Normal, Illinois
1973 National Endowment for the Arts Short-Term Activities Fellowship Grant
1993-94 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
1993 Lifetime Achievement Award. Illinois Academy of Fine Arts.
1990 Board Member. Watercolor Honor Society
1989 Burlington-Northern Award for Outstanding College Teaching
1988 Distinguished Professor. Illinois State University. ISU. Normal, Illinois
Researcher Grant Outstanding University Researcher Award. ISU. Normal, Illinois
1986 National Endowment for the Arts. Arts Midwest Regional Visual Arts Fellowship
Creative Researcher Recognition Award. ISU. Normal, Illinois
1985 Watercolor Honor Society. Charter Member
Distinguished Teacher Award. College of Fine Arts. ISU. Normal, Illinois
1973 National Endowment for the Arts Short-Term Activities Fellowship Grant
Recognition
Who's Who International
Who's Who in American Art
Who's Who in Midwest America
2000 Outstanding Artists and Designers of the 20th Century
Who's Who in American Art
Who's Who in Midwest America
2000 Outstanding Artists and Designers of the 20th Century
Selected Bibliography
Articles By The Artist
Gregor, Harold with Katherine Gregor. "Discovering a Lost Technique." The Artist's Magazine. July 1987: 40-45.
---. "The Techniques of Flatscape." The Artist's Magazine. Dec. 1986: 34-43 (illus.).
Gregor, Harold. "Colorfields from the Heartland." Watercolor Magic Magazine. 7:1 (Winter 1999): 38-43 (illus).
---. "Requirements for a New Vision: Reflections by an Artist Teacher." Mills and Irving, eds. Visual Arts in the Ninth Decade. National Council of Art Administrators. 1980.
---. Catalog essay for "State of the Art." Parkland College Biennial National Watercolor Show. Champaign, IL: Parkland College, 1991.
---. "Speculating on the Role of Watercolor in the 1990s." Watercolor USA Honor Society Newsletter. Summer 1990: 3-4.
Dissertation: "Clarification of an Artistic Position with Reference to Gestalt Perceptual Principles." 1960.
Retrospective Exhibition Catalogues
---. Arthur, John. Midwestern Romanticism: Exhibition of Contemporary Landscape Paintings. Peoria, IL:Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, 1996.
---. Cotter, Holland. "Harold Gregor and the American Landscape." introductory essay in Harold Gregor: A New View/Painter in the American Landscape Tradition. Peoria, IL: Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, 1987: 8-10.
---. Nordland, Gerald. Harold Gregor. Rockford, IL: Rockford Art Museum, 1993.
---. Sharp, Kevin. Harold Gregor's Illinois. Mt. Vernon, IL, Mitchell Museum 2005.
Selected Articles About The Artist
---. Arthur, John. Green Woods and Crystal Water: the American Landscape Tradition. Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Okla. Seattle: U of Washington Press, 1999: 82, 88 (illus), 129, 165.
---. Arthur, John. Spirit of Place: Contemporary Landscape Painting and the American Tradition. Boston: Little, Brown, 1989: 93-99, 134-35 (illus).
---. Battock, Gregory. Super Realism. New York: Dutton, 1975: 265.s
---. Cross, Robert. "Prairie Panache." Chicago Tribune. 8 May 1986: 1,3.
---. Driscoll, John and Arnold Skolnick. The Artist and the American Landscape. Cobb, CAs: First Glance Book, O.G. Publishing, 1993: 102-03 (illus.).
---. Goldman, Betsy Schein. "Harold Gregor." American Artist. Nov. 1986: 74-79.
---. Goodyear, Frank, Jr. Contemporary American Realism Since 1980. Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1981: 140-41 (illus).
---. Gussow, Alan. Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas. Santa Fe, NM: Gerald Peters Gallery Publication, 1996: 54 (illus), 99 -100.
---. Hanson, Henry. "Painterly Poet of the Prairie State." Chicago Magazine. Sept. 1982: 126.
---. Iris, Bonnie. "Recent Images, Recent Concerns: Harold Gregor, Shifting Colorscapes of the Midwest." Watercolor Magazine. Fall 1997: 36-39 (illus.).
---. Kinsey, Joni L. Plain Pictures: Images of the American Prairie. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press: 186, 188-191 (illus), 201.
---. Koplos, Janet. "Harold Gregor at Katharina Rich Perlow", review, Art in America, March 2003: 123.
---. Lucie-Smith, Edward. American Art Now. New York: William Morrow, 1985: 92-93.
---. Roberts, Nancy. "Harold Gregor." U.S. Art. Dec. 1989: 47-51.
---. Sullivan, Terry. The Best of Sketching and Drawing: A Collection of Still Lifes, Portraits, and Landscapes. Gloucester, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1999: 37 (illus)
---. Thompson, Walter. "I-55 at I-74." Art and Artists. April-May 1989: 9.
---. Weil, Rex. "Three Visions: Landscape in 2005", K. R. Perlow Gallery, NYC, review, Art News, April 2005: 130. (illus).
Gregor, Harold with Katherine Gregor. "Discovering a Lost Technique." The Artist's Magazine. July 1987: 40-45.
---. "The Techniques of Flatscape." The Artist's Magazine. Dec. 1986: 34-43 (illus.).
Gregor, Harold. "Colorfields from the Heartland." Watercolor Magic Magazine. 7:1 (Winter 1999): 38-43 (illus).
---. "Requirements for a New Vision: Reflections by an Artist Teacher." Mills and Irving, eds. Visual Arts in the Ninth Decade. National Council of Art Administrators. 1980.
---. Catalog essay for "State of the Art." Parkland College Biennial National Watercolor Show. Champaign, IL: Parkland College, 1991.
---. "Speculating on the Role of Watercolor in the 1990s." Watercolor USA Honor Society Newsletter. Summer 1990: 3-4.
Dissertation: "Clarification of an Artistic Position with Reference to Gestalt Perceptual Principles." 1960.
Retrospective Exhibition Catalogues
---. Arthur, John. Midwestern Romanticism: Exhibition of Contemporary Landscape Paintings. Peoria, IL:Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, 1996.
---. Cotter, Holland. "Harold Gregor and the American Landscape." introductory essay in Harold Gregor: A New View/Painter in the American Landscape Tradition. Peoria, IL: Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, 1987: 8-10.
---. Nordland, Gerald. Harold Gregor. Rockford, IL: Rockford Art Museum, 1993.
---. Sharp, Kevin. Harold Gregor's Illinois. Mt. Vernon, IL, Mitchell Museum 2005.
Selected Articles About The Artist
---. Arthur, John. Green Woods and Crystal Water: the American Landscape Tradition. Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Okla. Seattle: U of Washington Press, 1999: 82, 88 (illus), 129, 165.
---. Arthur, John. Spirit of Place: Contemporary Landscape Painting and the American Tradition. Boston: Little, Brown, 1989: 93-99, 134-35 (illus).
---. Battock, Gregory. Super Realism. New York: Dutton, 1975: 265.s
---. Cross, Robert. "Prairie Panache." Chicago Tribune. 8 May 1986: 1,3.
---. Driscoll, John and Arnold Skolnick. The Artist and the American Landscape. Cobb, CAs: First Glance Book, O.G. Publishing, 1993: 102-03 (illus.).
---. Goldman, Betsy Schein. "Harold Gregor." American Artist. Nov. 1986: 74-79.
---. Goodyear, Frank, Jr. Contemporary American Realism Since 1980. Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1981: 140-41 (illus).
---. Gussow, Alan. Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas. Santa Fe, NM: Gerald Peters Gallery Publication, 1996: 54 (illus), 99 -100.
---. Hanson, Henry. "Painterly Poet of the Prairie State." Chicago Magazine. Sept. 1982: 126.
---. Iris, Bonnie. "Recent Images, Recent Concerns: Harold Gregor, Shifting Colorscapes of the Midwest." Watercolor Magazine. Fall 1997: 36-39 (illus.).
---. Kinsey, Joni L. Plain Pictures: Images of the American Prairie. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press: 186, 188-191 (illus), 201.
---. Koplos, Janet. "Harold Gregor at Katharina Rich Perlow", review, Art in America, March 2003: 123.
---. Lucie-Smith, Edward. American Art Now. New York: William Morrow, 1985: 92-93.
---. Roberts, Nancy. "Harold Gregor." U.S. Art. Dec. 1989: 47-51.
---. Sullivan, Terry. The Best of Sketching and Drawing: A Collection of Still Lifes, Portraits, and Landscapes. Gloucester, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1999: 37 (illus)
---. Thompson, Walter. "I-55 at I-74." Art and Artists. April-May 1989: 9.
---. Weil, Rex. "Three Visions: Landscape in 2005", K. R. Perlow Gallery, NYC, review, Art News, April 2005: 130. (illus).
Education
Ph.D., Ohio State University. 1960. Painting and Art History.
M.S., Michigan State University, 1953. Painting.
B.S., Wayne State University, 1951. Art Education.
M.S., Michigan State University, 1953. Painting.
B.S., Wayne State University, 1951. Art Education.
Selected Shows Juried
1998 National Watercolor Society. Los Angeles, California
1994 Fourth Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Art. Red Clay Survey. Huntsville, Alabama
1992 "Watercolor: USA 1992." Springfield, Missouri
1991 Eleventh Annual National Small Painting Exhibition. Wichita Center for the Arts. Wichita, Kansas
1990 North Shore Art League Exhibition of Illinois Artists. Skokie, Illinois
1988 Milwaukee Annual Art Festival. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1988 San Diego Art Institute Annual Exhibition. San Diego, California
1984 Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival. Winter Park, Florida
2001 El Dorado,Kansas, Annual Art Competition
2003 Rocky Mountain National Watercolor Show, Golden, CO
1998 National Watercolor Society. Los Angeles, California
1994 Fourth Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Art. Red Clay Survey. Huntsville, Alabama
1992 "Watercolor: USA 1992." Springfield, Missouri
1991 Eleventh Annual National Small Painting Exhibition. Wichita Center for the Arts. Wichita, Kansas
1990 North Shore Art League Exhibition of Illinois Artists. Skokie, Illinois
1988 Milwaukee Annual Art Festival. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1988 San Diego Art Institute Annual Exhibition. San Diego, California
1984 Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival. Winter Park, Florida
2001 El Dorado,Kansas, Annual Art Competition
2003 Rocky Mountain National Watercolor Show, Golden, CO
Workshops/Artist-in-Residence
2004 Loveland Art Museum. Loveland, Colorado.
1999 Ohio Watercolor Society. Akron, OhioUtah State University. Logan, UtahOklahoma Arts Institute. Quartz Mountain, Oklahoma
1998 Watercolor Honor Society Conference. co-chair
1997 Art Museum of South Texas. Corpus Christi, Texas
1995 Tweed Museum. Duluth, MinnesotaLakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences. Peoria, Illinois
1994 Midwestern State University. Wichita Falls, Texas
1992 Vermont Studio Center. Johnson, Vermont
1989 Art Institute of Southern California. Laguna Beach, California
2007 Springmaid Watermedia Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC
2008 Springmaid Watermedia Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC Ringling School of Art, Sarasota, FL
2004 Loveland Art Museum. Loveland, Colorado.
1999 Ohio Watercolor Society. Akron, OhioUtah State University. Logan, UtahOklahoma Arts Institute. Quartz Mountain, Oklahoma
1998 Watercolor Honor Society Conference. co-chair
1997 Art Museum of South Texas. Corpus Christi, Texas
1995 Tweed Museum. Duluth, MinnesotaLakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences. Peoria, Illinois
1994 Midwestern State University. Wichita Falls, Texas
1992 Vermont Studio Center. Johnson, Vermont
1989 Art Institute of Southern California. Laguna Beach, California
2007 Springmaid Watermedia Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC
2008 Springmaid Watermedia Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC Ringling School of Art, Sarasota, FL