Photo by Sabrina Romano

Moving back to his native Pittsburgh, artist Cory Elder launched his first solo art gallery at Artists Image Resource, Inc. in Historic Deutschtown Feb. 21.

By Sabrina Romano

Pittsburgh artist Cory Elder launched his first solo art exhibition, [of],Feb. 21 at Artists Image Resource, Inc. in Historic Deutschtown.

The compilation of work represents his transition from his original aesthetic to his current style, and his progress as an artist.

Elder said he surprised himself when he changed his style from realist art to abstract art.

“I was beating myself up a little bit. I was like ‘maybe you’re just being lazy and that’s why you’re not painting realism anymore,’” Elder, 24, said. “Then I realized that I needed to trust myself, like, ‘no, you’re really exploring something that’s worth exploring.’”

Elder explained one of his abstract paintings called Daedalus is about a dream he had where strange, six-legged creatures visited him in a grocery store, while other paintings are about memories or perceptions.

Elder’s most recent work was actually made in the gallery a few days before the show; a nine-foot long hanging piece of burlap that he kneaded in plaster before hanging it from the ceiling.

Elder said he wants to make similar pieces in other galleries.

“It’s going to be purely based off of my experiences in the city and in the gallery,” Elder said. “The people that come in and out. My emotions at the time. It’s going to be something very site-specific and a one-time thing.”

Elder said this show wouldn’t have been possible without the support from Artists Image Resource, Inc. (AIR). They are letting him use the gallery space for a few weeks.

“We support the mature artist and we allow the inspiring artist to be in the room,” RobertBeckman, the director of AIR, said. “Cory slid right into that.”

Beckman said that Elder’s show a micro-gallery due to the number of pieces on display.

“In between larger exhibitions, we are making the gallery space available to younger artists,” Beckman explained.

Visitors were enthusiastic and excited about Elder’s artwork.

“I love the colors; the reds and the rusts speak to me,” Margot Moersch of Ross Township said. “I love abstract art. I bought one of his paintings already.”

Jacob Bartosh, a resident of the North Hills, was interested in Elder’s early sketches.

“I just like that it is the precursor to what he does on the bigger canvas,” Bartosh said. “It leads to more stuff that he creates in his mind.”

The show is on display until March 1.

Sabrina Romano is a student intern from Pitt.