GJ Rogers
Surreal Octopus
1959
Oil on Canvas
36"x24.5"
Signed and dated in paint lower right
Very Good Condition - Minor wear consistent with age and history. Small tear in canvas .25", needs repair
George Jay Rogers was born in Yonkers, New York on June 9, 1926. During the Great Depression George's mother being a single mother and falling on hard times sent George to a home for boys in New York City. George remained there and later attended The School of Industrial Arts in New York City.
Shortly after his 18th birthday George enlisted in the Army. He was sent to Germany where he drove a light truck as a message center courier. He was given an honorable discharge and moved back to New York City. Under the GI Bill he enrolled in the Art Students League of NYC in 1948. Here George studied under noted artists Robert Brackman, Morris Kantor, Louis Bouche, Harry Sternberg and Robert Beverly Hale to name a few. He was a student at the League from 1948-1956. In order to support his desire to paint, George worked as a message courier in NYC.
In the late 1950s George painted in the surreal style. Later in the early 1960s his style evolved to futeristic cityscapes, ritualistic paintings, exotic women and nudes. Rogers hoarded his life works when he moved to Florida around 1990.
The cache of paintings by George Jay Rogers was recently discovered in the studio on his property when hi guardian was assigned to dispose of his estate. This important new discovery of American art is now being offered for sale.