Peter Russom, a retired SUNY Plattsburgh Professor, is currently exhibiting a survey of 18 painted works in the same space.
“This exhibition aims to display the natural transitions found in my studio practice,” Russom said. “Offering a range of representational and abstract modes of painting, I remain most
interested in exploring the concepts of faith, spirituality, and the human condition. My current body of work investigates the unique topography, color palette, and grandeur of coastal landscapes.”
Russom’s work synthesizes imagery, form, and geometry within fields of color, using their relationships to engage the viewer’s eye. Working with deliberate efficiency, he often paints up to 20 canvases at once to develop a cohesive body of work.
Originally from Stillwater in Saratoga County, Russom now lives in Port Kent. Influenced by his working-class upbringing, he earned degrees in Studio Art and Philosophy from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1985, where he also played baseball. He later earned an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He taught and exhibited in New York City before joining his alma mater as a faculty member.
Professor Matthew Burnett, who teaches in the Graphic and Multimedia Design
program, was one of Russom’s students.
“Pete is an inspiration as a painter and educator,” Burnett said. “He helped drive my decision to consider a career in higher education in addition to helping me explore contemporary decisions in my own paintings.”
“Peter Russom: A Survey” will be up through May.