Hall Groat Sr. Biography,
American Impressionist
Learn about the life and career of this important American Impressionist painter, living and working in Central New York.
Hall Groat Sr, an American Impressionist painter is a native of Syracuse, New York, where he studied painting; worked towards his Master of Fines Arts degree and began his life long career as an artist. Groat has dedicated his entire full-time professional career, spanning over forty years, to pursuing his passion for art. The Berkshire Museum was the first of several museums worldwide to acquire a major Groat work. The Museum purchased the prize winner, Megalopolis, one of the largest of Groat’s railroad paintings. This is where the late Norman Rockwell first discovered him and invited the then twenty-nine year old to dinner in the Berkshires.
The United Nations awarded Groat with the honor of having a series of paintings for their stamp reproduction. The series of ten paintings is in the permanent collections of United Nations Philatelic Museum in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition, Groat’s paintings are included in the collections of notables such as President Jimmy Carter, the late Jacob Javits, Henry Kissinger, Fred Perry, Sir Michael Tippett, Christopher Keane, and the late Arthur Fiedler. Ambassadors among countless others have also invested in his work.
In recent years, Groat has turned his attention to the corporate world with emphasis on banks, churches, brokerage houses, and insurance companies. His work is included in numerous corporate collections throughout the world today. Clement Greenberg, one of the nation’s foremost art critics, once stated that “Hall Groat was an artist who could make it” and he was proven correct.
EDUCATION:
1959 Syracuse University, School of Art, BFA
1962 Syracuse University Graduate School of Art, Studied with Josef Albers, Yale University
ONE PERSON EXHIBITIONS:
2003 Oxford Gallery, Rochester, NY
2001 Oxford Gallery, Rochester, NY
1997 Oxford Gallery, Rochester, NY
1993 Two Generations of Painting, Olin Fine Arts Center, Washington & Jefferson, College,
Washington, PA
1992 John H. Mulroy Civic Center, Syracuse, NY
1987 Left Bank Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
1986 Kendall Art Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
1985 Arlene Mc Daniels Gallery, Simsbury, CT
1983 LeMoyne College Art Gallery, Syracuse, NY
1975 SUNY Morrisville, Morrisville, NY
1973 Wellfleet Art Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
1971 Main Street Gallery, Wilkes Barre, PA
1970 Sarasota Art Association, Sarasota, FL
1969 Janet Fleisher Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1968 Longboat Key Art Center, L.K., FL
1967 Beau Arts Gallery, Sarasota, FL
1966 Roberson Center, Binghamton, NY
1962 Berskshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:
Syracuse University
United Nations Philatelic Museum, Palais des, Geneva, Switzerland
Berkshire Museum of Art
Paine-Webber Corporation
First National Bank
Chemical Bank
Norstar Bank
Key Bank
Deliote Haskins
Hartford National Bank
Emhart Corporation
Merrill Lynch
Bristol-Myers-Squibb
Syracuse China
Security Mutual
Mutual of New York Insurance
Bond Shoeneck & King Law Firm
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:
Jimmy Carter (former U.S. President)
John Kennedy
Henry Kissinger
Senator Tarky Lombardi
Emilo Pucci
Senator Leverne
Fred Perry
LECTURES / DEMONSTRATIONS:
Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown, NY
Sherburne Art Society, Sherburne, NY
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY
Onieda Library, Onieda, NY
Temple Adath Yeshurun, Syracuse, NY
Jewish Community Center, Syracuse, NY
Baldwinsville Art Guild, Baldwinsville, NY
Thousand Islands Art Association, Clayton, NY
Elmira Art Association, Elmira, NY
Geneva Art Association, Geneva, NY
Masonic Temple/Philo Lodge, Syracuse, NY
Rotary Club of Syracuse
Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA
Syracuse Symphony
Onondaga Public Library
MURALS:
John H. Mulroy Onondaga County Civic Center
Saint James Church, Syracuse, NY
Republic of Korea (Naval)
General Electric Co., Pittsfield, MA (Admirals Gate)
Johnstown, NY, Public Auditorium
Fay Drug Co., Syracuse, NY
SUNY Morrisville Library
Ther Merrill Center, Merrill Trust Company, Bangor, ME
Bank of America
(Formerly Norstar Bank and Syracuse Savings Bank, Syracuse, NY.
Building included in National Register of Historic Landmarks)
Skaneateles Savings Bank, Skaneateles, NY
Miller Brewing Company, Fulton, NY
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dewitt, NY
St. John The Evangelist Church, Syracuse, NY
St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Church, Clay, NY
MONY Tower II, Syracuse, NY
Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Syracuse, NY
North Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
EXHIBITIONS / AWARDS:
United Nations, NYC, Philatelic Award, 1973
Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio
Avenue Art Gallery National Small Works Painting Exhibition, Endicott, NY
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY
Rochester-Finger Lakes, Rochester, NY
Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, NY
Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown, NY, Frederick A. Godley Award
Memorial, Prize/CAA Purchase Award
Springfield National, Springfield, MA
New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY
Sarasota Art Association, Sarasota, FL
Pittsfield Art League, Pittsfield, MA, Best In Show
Associated Artists of Syracuse, Best In Show & Gordon Steele Memorial Award
Medal, One-man Show Award
Williams College, Williamsville, MA
Central New York Art Open, First Prize
State of the Arts, Boston, MA
JUROR:
Sarasota Art Association, Sarasota, FL, Abstract & Non-Objective Show, 1973
Chittenango Art League, Chittenango, NY
Camillus Art Association, Camillus, NY, 1973, 1978
WCNY-TV (Channel 24), TEL AUC Artists of NYC
Manlius, NY, Annual Art Exhibition
National Exhibition, Ellsworth Gallery, Simsbury, CT, 1979
Associated Artists of Syracuse, 1980
Tioga Art Association, Owego, NY
PUBLICATIONS:
National Society of Mural Painters
Who’s Who In American Art
Who’s Who In The East
International Biographies, London, England
Sarasota Art Association, Sarasota, FL
Secretariat News, United Nations
World Federation of United Nations Associations, ten, First Day of Issue
cover painting, (Pablo Picasso 90th birthday commemorative design)
WCNY Public Television, documentary film, Hall Groat, A Man and His Art
EDUCATION:
1959 Syracuse University, School of Art, BFA
1962 Syracuse University Graduate School of Art
Studied with Josef Albers, Yale University
ONE PERSON EXHIBITIONS:
2003 Oxford Gallery, Rochester, NY
2001 Oxford Gallery, Rochester, NY
1997 Oxford Gallery, Rochester, NY
1993 Two Generations of Painting, Olin Fine Arts Center, Washington & Jefferson, College, Washington, PA
1992 John H. Mulroy Civic Center, Syracuse, NY
1987 Left Bank Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
1986 Kendall Art Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
1985 Arlene Mc Daniels Gallery, Simsbury, CT
1983 LeMoyne College Art Gallery, Syracuse, NY
1975 SUNY Morrisville, Morrisville, NY
1973 Wellfleet Art Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
1971 Main Street Gallery, Wilkes Barre, PA
1970 Sarasota Art Association, Sarasota, FL
1969 Janet Fleisher Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1968 Longboat Key Art Center, L.K., FL
1967 Beau Arts Gallery, Sarasota, FL
1966 Roberson Center, Binghamton, NY
1962 Berskshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:
Syracuse University
United Nations Philatelic Museum, Palais des, Geneva, Switzerland
Berkshire Museum of Art
Paine-Webber Corporation
First National Bank
Chemical Bank
Norstar Bank
Key Bank
Deliote Haskins
Hartford National Bank
Emhart Corporation
Merrill Lynch
Bristol-Myers-Squibb
Syracuse China
Security Mutual
Mutual of New York Insurance
Bond Shoeneck & King Law Firm
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:
Jimmy Carter (former U.S. President)
John Kennedy
Henry Kissinger
Senator Tarky Lombardi
Emilo Pucci
Senator Leverne
Fred Perry
LECTURES / DEMONSTRATIONS:
Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown, NY
Sherburne Art Society, Sherburne, NY
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY
Onieda Library, Onieda, NY
Temple Adath Yeshurun, Syracuse, NY
Jewish Community Center, Syracuse, NY
Baldwinsville Art Guild, Baldwinsville, NY
Thousand Islands Art Association, Clayton, NY
Elmira Art Association, Elmira, NY
Geneva Art Association, Geneva, NY
Masonic Temple/Philo Lodge, Syracuse, NY
Rotary Club of Syracuse
Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA
Syracuse Symphony
Onondaga Public Library
MURALS:
John H. Mulroy Onondaga County Civic Center
Saint James Church, Syracuse, NY
Republic of Korea (Naval)
General Electric Co., Pittsfield, MA (Admirals Gate)
Johnstown, NY, Public Auditorium
Fay Drug Co., Syracuse, NY
SUNY Morrisville Library
Ther Merrill Center, Merrill Trust Company, Bangor, ME
Bank of America (Formerly Norstar Bank and Syracuse Savings Bank, Syracuse, NY
Skaneateles Savings Bank, Skaneateles, NY
Miller Brewing Company, Fulton, NY
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dewitt, NY
St. John The Evangelist Church, Syracuse, NY
St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Church, Clay, NY
MONY Tower II, Syracuse, NY
Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Syracuse, NY
North Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
EXHIBITIONS / AWARDS:
United Nations, NYC, Philatelic Award, 1973
Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio
Avenue Art Gallery National Small Works Painting Exhibition, Endicott, NY
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY
Rochester-Finger Lakes, Rochester, NY
Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, NY
Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown, NY, Frederick A. Godley Award
Memorial, Prize/CAA Purchase Award
Springfield National, Springfield, MA
New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY
Sarasota Art Association, Sarasota, FL
Pittsfield Art League, Pittsfield, MA, Best In Show
Associated Artists of Syracuse, Best In Show & Gordon Steele Memorial Award
Medal, One-man Show Award
Williams College, Williamsville, MA
Central New York Art Open, First Prize
State of the Arts, Boston, MA
JUROR:
Sarasota Art Association, Sarasota, FL, Abstract & Non-Objective Show, 1973
Chittenango Art League, Chittenango, NY
Camillus Art Association, Camillus, NY, 1973, 1978
WCNY-TV (Channel 24), TEL AUC Artists of NYC
Manlius, NY, Annual Art Exhibition
National Exhibition, Ellsworth Gallery, Simsbury, CT, 1979
Associated Artists of Syracuse, 1980
Tioga Art Association, Owego, NY
PUBLICATIONS:
National Society of Mural Painters
Who’s Who In American Art
Who’s Who In The East
International Biographies, London, England
Sarasota Art Association, Sarasota, FL
Secretariat News, United Nations
World Federation of United Nations Associations, ten, First Day of Issue
cover painting, (Pablo Picasso 90th birthday commemorative design)
WCNY Public Television, documentary film, Hall Groat, A Man and His Art
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American Impressionist: Hall Groat Sr.
By Jim Hall, Art Critic, Rochester, New York
Always self-confident, Groat’s brushwork has become even bolder and more assertive. In many of the works presented, we find the paint is applied in broad strokes or highly apparent daubs and drips, heightening our sense of disparity between the creative energy of the artist and the refined sophistication of the image. The surface of these paintings is thicker, with the addition of sand and occasionally collage to the medium, so that lines are inscribed into the surface as often as painted upon it. The hallmark of Groat’s style remains his uncanny ability to organize compositions through color. But those who recall the soft, brooding landscapes of the past will find here a warmer, more vibrant palette, with more strident contrasts of both hue and value. So, too, has the ambient light of earlier landscapes become more focused and dramatic. In paintings like Monhegan Surf, the light which illuminates the landscape has become the subject of the painting. “Groat’s depiction often treads a fine line between realism and abstraction. Objects or entire scenes come into our presence with the force of belated recognition.”
The Self-representing Artist
By Hall Groat Sr.
Forty years of dragging art to galleries from Cape Cod to Sarasota and struggling to make a living have come to an end. The way artists have had to work with galleries as middlemen was a big disaster.
Most artists have had to put their art on consignment while the galleries keep hiking up their commissions. Freedom for artists has come by way of cyberspace and a new breed of self-representing artists are enjoying what is rightfully theirs–direct contact with their customers. We are now the deal makers and can reap the profits without working through an established gallery.
No longer is there a need for a critic to nod approval to a young artist who dreads what a bad review can do to his career. The artist is in the driver’s seat now and galleries as we know them are dying on the vine. each year there are fewer of these antiquated establishments in business. Art lovers can now enjoy the luxury of attending an opening on-line and meet the artist through his podcast or personal on line store or any number of innovating ideas.