Knox College presents an exhibit of paintings by the late Paul Braucher, October 22-29, in the Gallery, Ford Center for the Fine Arts, in the Knox campus in Galesburg, Illinois.

Rick Ortner, professor of art at Louisiana State University, will give a talk about Braucher's work at 7 p.m., Friday, October 22, in the Round Room, Ford Center for the Fine Arts. The exhibit consists of twenty paintings and a large number of drawings and preparatory studies. The talk and exhibit are free and open to the public.

"Paul worked in the area of narrative painting, painting that tells a story, which has been a major thread of American art," said Ortner, who taught art at Knox from 1979 until 2002. "His psychological dramas are among the most important narrative paintings of the last twenty years."

A 1981 Knox graduate, Braucher, who died last year, was both an artist and musician in New York City. He had two solo exhibitions in San Francisco and had works selected for a number of group exhibitions. Braucher earned a master's degree at Queens College and had visiting faculty positions at the Pratt Institute and at Knox College.

A native of Chicago, Braucher was also a founding member of the New York music group Coocoohandler. Braucher was the band's guitarist, painter and set designer. Along with six other artists and musicians -- including fellow Knox graduate Matt Hausmann, a percussionist, sculptor and installation artist -- Braucher and the group combined art, music, theatre and education in their performances.

Prior to his death from cancer in 2004, Braucher was featured on CNN in a story about uninsured workers facing catastrophic health care costs.

Knox College Art Program

Paul Braucher