Harold Gregor (1929–2018) was an American painter and printmaker known for his vivid landscapes. Gregor’s art combined realist representation with elements of abstraction, creating a distinctive visual language that often celebrated the natural world while subtly incorporating social commentary. His paintings, characterized by bold colors, dynamic compositions, and intricate detail, capture both the beauty and complexity of rural and urban environments. His work is organized into five distinct series: Illinois Flatscapes, Illinois Landscapes, Illinois Colorscapes, the Trail Series, and the Left-Right Vibrascape Series.
Although Gregor studied during the height of Abstract Expressionism, he did not focus on landscapes until 1970, when he moved from California to Bloomington, Illinois. There, he started producing the Illinois Corn Crib series—strikingly detailed, almost photographic works that centered on stark, whitewashed corn cribs set against expansive rural backdrops. These paintings, both serene and contemplative, evoke a quiet stillness, inviting viewers to engage with the subtle beauty of the American Midwest. In the late 1970s, Gregor embarked on a series of landscapes characterized by elevated, often distorted perspectives. By de-emphasizing manmade structures, Gregor drew attention to the inherent beauty of the natural world. Through a masterful use of both romanticized and realistic color palettes, Gregor’s paintings invite viewers to rediscover the overlooked beauty of their surroundings. Gregor was a Distinguished Professor of Art at Illinois State University, where he taught for twenty-five years. He also taught at Chapman University in Southern California; Purdue University in Indiana; and San Diego State University.
His work is in many public and corporate collections, including Citibank Corporation in New York, New York; Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Illinois; Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois; Denver Art Museum, Colorado; Columbia Museum of Art, South Carolina; Illinois State Museum, Springfield; Syracuse University, New York; and the Rockford Art Museum in Illinois.
Gregor has had several solo exhibitions at GRAY, including New Paintings, 1983; New Paintings and Watercolors, 1985; A Wider Perspective, 1988; The Springfield Murals and Related Work, 1991; New Paintings, 1993; Recent Landscapes, 1995; and Recent Landscapes, 1999.
