Joel D. Valdez Main Library is pleased to present The People: An exhibit of thought-provoking, large scale paintings by Tucson Artist George Strasburger. The exhibit will be on display from April 1 until May 30, 2025.
This exhibit is Strasburger’s take on scenes of his neighbors and neighborhood. His characters are often described as people “on the fringe”, but the artist disagrees, “If you walk my streets, or take the bus, the characters are in fact mainstream.” His portrayal of them is circumspect, unjudged, ennobled and realistically realized. Strasburger’s style is classical with undertones that are philosophical, biblical and political. The Joel D. Valdez Library is an ideal venue for this exhibit as it graciously welcomes the homeless and as Strasburger would say, the mainstream.
Artist statement:
George Strasburger was born and raised in a working class neighborhood in Scranton, PA. His first artistic influences were the murals in the Catholic church he attended as a child, admiring and studying the stories and anatomy. Strasburger has a classical approach. His large-scale oil paintings begin with drawings, which make visual for him the finished work in his mind’s eye. His thoughtful compositions and a combination of loose and tight brushwork serve the scenarios he creates. His narrative paintings are his “take” on the human condition. His characters often perform tasks or engage in activities that to him depict an act or a need that is elemental. He values beauty and he reveals existential truths. He lives and works in Tucson.
Images courtesy of the artist
