Single Tree in Moonlight

About Single Tree in Moonlight

This contemporary abstract painting of a tree bathed in moonlight is by Otto Rogers.

This striking black silhouette of an abstracted tree is planted at the centre of the picture plane in this nature-inspired painting by Otto Rogers. The tree is framed by an earthy palette of slate gray, pale green, and pale blue. The addition of white and tan adds light to the piece. The overall effect creates a contemplative feeling. The important Canadian artist is highly regarded for his inspired sense of expressive form, unusual color choices, and his masterful use of light.
Rogers found inspiration in both his deep faith as a Baha’i and the beauty of nature, so often reflected in his stunning work.

“The purpose of art is to lift the human spirit.” Otto Rogers

“….he is a ‘Big Attack Painter,’ (as Sir Anthony Caro once stated): while he reflected the external world, he painted from the inside and he never compromised his authentic expression.” Jessica Veevers, PhD, Art Historian

Otto Rogers (1935-2019) was born in Saskatchewan and acquired his MA in Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin. He later taught art at the University of Saskatchewan for 30 years. His work is included in more than 30 public collections across Canada, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the McMichael Canadian Collection, and the National Gallery of Canada. Roger’s work is also in the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona and the National Gallery of Iceland, as well as numerous private and corporate collections.
Rogers also helped sustain the Emma Lake Workshops, which provide a meeting place for many of North America's most respected visual artists and critics, including Clement Greenberg, Barnett Newman, Jules Olitiski, Kenneth Noland, Jack Shadbolt, and Helen Frankenthaler. In 2007, a book of his work, Otto Donald Rogers, including a foreword by British sculptor Sir Anthony Caro, was published.