Warren Rohrer

Place: Smoketown

Born: 1927

Death: 1995

Biography:

Warren Rohrer was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and became one of Philadelphia’s leading abstract painters in the late 20th century. Coming from a Lancaster Mennonite upbringing, he strayed from conventional religious beliefs and pursued a career in art. Rohrer received his Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1952 and his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965. He taught at the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts) from 1965 to 1973 and at the Tyler School of Art (Temple University) from 1973 to 1995. Rohrer’s work is characterized by his use of linen as a medium and his exploration of color and light. His paintings often feature geometric shapes and patterns, inspired by the rural landscapes of his childhood. Rohrer’s work has been exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Delaware Art Museum, and the Woodmere Art Museum, among others. He was also a participant in the Emma Lake Artists' Workshops in Saskatchewan, Canada.