TOLEDO, Ohio — Holocaust survivor and immigrant - late Toledoan and artist, Adam Grant painted his way to a better life in the Glass City. This winter, 20 North Gallery is celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth with the Adam Grant Centennial Exhibit.
“Early in life, he always enjoyed painting, he was inspired by great painters who proceeded him, but his elder relatives discouraged him in pursuing art seriously," said gallery manager Anastasia Wagner. "They told him that art would never earn the price of bread. But then, during World War II, he was captured by the Nazis and was sent to the concentration camps, Auschwitz and Mauthausen, where he was given assignments to paint portraits and cards for the guards. In exchange he was, on rare occasions, given an extra ration of bread. So, art enabled him to survive by literally earning him his bread."
Following the war, Grant came to America, where he continued to pursue art through his work with the Palmer Paint Company, where he was one of the first designers for the paint-by-numbers kits which became popular in the post-war era.
Wagner says that Grant can be looked to as an example of an American artistic hero because his paint reflects his journey and his joy found in his new life.
“I think that when people come here, they can find a connection to how art has kept him going and how he found inspiration and a reason to live in art and this is how he built his new life," said Wagner. “We have four pieces from his 'Renewed Hope' series here in the Adam Grant Centennial Exhibit. And you can see symbols of joy and rebirth in this series.”
Wagner says that throughout the gallery, viewers can see the progression of his art over the years, expressed through his different series of paintings.
The gallery features multiple pieces from the artist. Gallery director Condessa Coninger expressed her excitement for the exhibit. “He painted all through his life and you’ll find his work in museums around the United States and overseas and if you really want to take it home, it’s all for sale."
Adam Grant died in 1992.
“I hope that when people learn about Adam’s story and see his work, they can feel inspired that art can give them hope and also art can earn you your bread," said Wagner.
The exhibit will be up through March 23rd. It is free to attend.
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