Dixie State University’s Sears Art Museum opening Leo Krikorian exhibit

Representing the beat generation of art that challenged social norms, works by the late American painter and photographer Leo Krikorian will be on display in the Dixie State University Sears Art Museum from Nov. 30 through Jan. 18, 2019. The exhibit will open to the public with a reception from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 in the museum, located in the Dolores Doré Eccles Fine Arts Center on the Dixie State campus. Krikorian’s daughter, Genie Krikorian Stressing, will share memories of her father and a documentary about the artist will be screened. Additionally, as part of the exhibit, art by local artist Joe Jonas will be exhibited the Eccles Grand Foyer. “We are excited to present Krikorian’s work and invite the community to come experience his fascinating artwork and life," Kathy Cielslewicz, Sears Art Museum curator, said. “We don’t often have a one-person show or shows of artists who have passed away, but Leo’s art offers a fun way to educate the public about the beat generation.” The exhibit will feature approximately 50 of Krikorian’s geometric paintings, representing his abstract style that features vibrant colors and reverse symmetry and ranges from playful to meditative. Born in the Bay area of California in 1922, Krikorian grew up during the Great Depression and learned not only about hard work, but also about compassion and generosity, which influenced his work. Krikorian started his art career in the 1940s, when he studied art at Black Mountain College with Ilya Bolotowsky and Josef Albers and mastered photography at the San Francisco Institute of Fine Arts with Ansel Adams and Miner White. Krikorian’s artwork has been exhibited in major cities throughout the United States, France, the Netherlands and Germany. It is currently displayed in many major museums around the globe, including the Smithsonian. The Dixie State University Sears Art Museum features six exhibits each year, offering a variety of art styles from traditional to contemporary for the enjoyment and education of DSU students and the community. Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the museum offers free admission. Learn more at searsart.com.

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