Retired SUNY Plattsburgh Art Professor Displays Paintings at SUNY Canton

A survey of Peter Russom’s work is the latest in a series of exhibitions in the SUNY Canton Learning Commons Classroom.

SUNY Plattsburgh Professor Emeritus Peter Russom is exhibiting 18 painted works at SUNY Canton.

An artist’s reception and opening will be held for “Peter Russom: A Survey” at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in the SUNY Canton Learning Commons Classroom. The event is free and open to the public, and the exhibition will remain on display for the entire spring semester.

“This exhibition aims to display the natural transitions found in my studio practice,” Russom said. “Offering a range of representational and abstract modes of painting, I remain most interested in exploring the concepts of faith, spirituality, and the human condition. My current body of work investigates the unique topography, color palette, and grandeur of coastal landscapes.”

Russom’s work is a synthesis of images, forms and geometric systems suspended in fields of color. He said the structure and relationships among the various formal elements act with the viewer’s eye to initiate communication. Guided by thoughtful efficiency, he paints as many as 20 canvases at a time, allowing him to create a unified series of work.

Russom taught drawing and painting at SUNY Plattsburgh for nearly 30 years. He helped guide generations of students in their artistic discovery and was a defining influence on their college experience. SUNY Canton Professor Matthew Burnett, who teaches in the Graphic and Multimedia Design program, was one of Russom’s students.

“Pete is an inspiration as a painter and educator,” Burnett said. “He helped drive meaningful creation and served as a positive role model for those of us who were pursuing careers in the arts. He helped drive my decision to consider a career in higher education in addition to helping me explore contemporary decisions in my own paintings.”

Originally from Stillwater in Saratoga County, Russom now lives in Port Kent. He was influenced by his hard-working-class upbringing and earned degrees in Studio Art and Philosophy from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1985. He was also a student-athlete who played baseball for the Cardinals. He went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He taught and displayed in New York City before joining his alma mater as a faculty member.

He earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2008. He retired from higher education in 2023 and is continuing his career as a full-time artist.

“Peter Russom: A Survey” is part of a series of exhibitions orchestrated by the SUNY Canton Learning Commons. The Canino School of Engineering Technology sponsored the current show and several previous displays. For more information or to inquire about submitting art for future exhibitions, please email Southworth Library Building Manager Allan Cox, coxa@canton.edu.