Three Part Sunset

About Three Part Sunset

This contemporary abstract landscape painting is by Otto Rogers.

The wide open plains and big skies of the Saskatchewan prairies left a lifelong impression on the work of one of Canada’s preeminent artists, Otto Rogers.
He was born and raised in the prairies and often commented that his own exploration of colour, form and light were forever influenced by that powerful imagery. Rogers' inspiration was also strongly rooted in nature and so organic shapes and earthy colours dominated his work. He is also known for his profound ability to convey both motion and stillness in his work, a quality that is, perhaps, a reflection of his faith as a devout Bahá'í. The graphic passages in this piece also reflect a deep admiration for the cubist/constructivist style as favoured by famous artists he admired such as Picasso. The palette is a tapestry of rich browns, bright greens, soft gray and black with pops of orange.

“Art is not just a decorative thing. The sense of peace that art conveys reflects attributes of the soul and that the significant form elevates the human soul.”
Otto Rogers

“What is incredibly unique about Rogers’ practice is that his entire oeuvre holds together cohesively: what Rogers’ art reminds one of most of all is an artwork by Rogers. This is why he is a ‘Big Attack’ painter: while he reflected the external world he painted from the inside, and he never compromised his authentic expression.” Dr. Jessica Veevers, 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. Rogers' contribution to teaching and mentoring the next generation of artists cannot be overstated. 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 provided 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 famed British sculptor Sir Anthony Caro was published.