Artist Profile

Born in Covington, Kentucky, Eric Orr (1939-1998) studied at a number of universities including the University of California, Berkeley; University of Mexico, New School for Social Research; Ecole de Paraphysiques, Paris; and the University of Cincinnati.  Using lead, gold, and oil paint on canvas, Orr's art engages the themes of chemistry and light.  Through his art, Orr sought to illustrate the essence of life itself.  At times, the artist would incorporate non-traditional materials such as blood, broken and crushed bone, volcanic ash, hair, and pulverized transistor radio parts into his sculptural works.   Works by Orr are in the collections of the State of California; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Newport Harbor Art Museum; City of Denver Performing Arts Center; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Den Haag Gemeentemuseum, the Netherlands; the Panza Collection, Milan, Italy; and the Museum Sztuki W. Lodzi, Lodz, Poland.