bio
George Elsasser is an American lens-based artist long affected by psychology and spirituality. The primary theme underpinning his photographs is the unexamined inner life. His photographs use the surface of objects and events to reinforce our collective journey and common ground.
In 2020 Daylight Books published "American Psyche: The Unlit Cave" Elsasser's conceptual arrangement of images (2005-2019) reflecting the artist's reactions to America's inability to live up to its claims of "liberty for all".
Elsasser had early recognition from Robert Heinecken, Emmet Gowin, and George Krause as jurors in shows at venues such as the Chrysler Museum of Art and NYU. In addition to solo and group shows in 1997 he received a 20-Year Retrospective at the Hermitage Foundation Museum. He has taught various photography-related courses to both children and adults at Virginia MOCA and developed a PFAC, and continued his personal work.
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SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1997 (20 yr. Retro.) Hermitage Foundation Museum. Norfolk, VA,
1992 EVMS. Norfolk, VA,
1991 incidents & intersections, Peninsula Fine Arts Center. Newport News, VA,
1990 incidents & intersection, Petersburg Art League. Petersburg, VA,
1990 Old Dominion University. Norfolk, VA,
1990 Museum of Contemporary Art, (Courthouse Satellite). Va. Beach, VA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1999 D’Art Center. Norfolk, VA,
1997 Museum of Contemporary Art, Va. Beach, VA
1996 Museum of Contemporary Art, Va. Beach, VA
1996 Crestar Gallery. Norfolk, VA
1995 Crestar Gallery. Norfolk, VA
1994 Crestar Gallery. Norfolk, VA
1991 World Trade Center. Norfolk, VA
1990 The Stanley Gallery. Norfolk, VA
1989 The Wells Theater. Norfolk, VA
1985 The Waterside. Norfolk, VA
1983 Old Dominion University. Norfolk, VA,
1982 Chrysler Museum of Art. Norfolk, VA (award winners invitational)
OTHER EXHIBITIONS
1992 Charles H. Taylor Arts Center. Hampton, VA
1991 Charles H. Taylor Arts Center. Hampton, VA
1990 Portsmouth Museum. Portsmouth, VA
1990 Peninsula Fine Arts Center. Newport News, VA
1988 Peninsula Fine Arts Center. Newport News, VA
1987 Peninsula Fine Arts Center. Newport News, VA
1984 Old Dominion University. Norfolk, VA
1983 Old Dominion University. Norfolk, VA
1983 Chrysler Museum of Art. Norfolk, VA
1980 American Vision II, Montclair State College. Upper Montclair, NJ
1980 American Vision II,Tisch Gallery, New York University. New York, NY
1979 American Vision, Tisch Gallery, New York University. New York, NY
1979 Freshworks, Hermitage Foundation Museum. Norfolk, VA
1978 Old Dominion University. Norfolk, VA
ONLINE EXHIBITIONS
2017 Unnatural Exhibition - Lenscratch
2017 RED in the American South - South x Southeast photomagazine
2016 Favorite Photograph Exhibition - Lenscratch
INTERVIEWS
2020 Abstract Magazine
1995 Port Folio Weekly, Virginia Beach, VA (12-26)
1990 The Progress Index, Petersburg, VA (6-22)
LECTURES & PRESENTATIONS
1999 Virginia Beach Photography Club (my photojournalist approach to doing weddings)
1998 Virginia Beach Photography Club (my fine art photography)
1991 Peninsula Fine Arts Center. Newport News, VA (gallery talk on exhibition)
PUBLICATIONS
2020 "American Psyche: The Unlit Cave" (Daylight Books)
2012 "Tips & Tales" (Blurb) photo-book
1996 Book, The Art of Community Service
1995 Cover Image, Port Folio Weekly, Virginia Beach, VA (12-26)
1987 Exhibition Catalog, PFAC, Newport News, VA
1983 Poster, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA
1978 Post card, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA,
TEACHING
1992-1999 Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA,
1991-1992 Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA,
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
First Virginia Bank, Norfolk, VA
Kirn Memorial Library, Norfolk, VA
Consultants in Internal Medicine, Ltd., Norfolk, VA
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Numerous
EDUCATION
1989-90 Graduate Study, Fine Arts, Old Dominion University/Norfolk State University
1989-90 Education Study K-12, Art, Old Dominion University/
1984 Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts, Old Dominion University