George Bogart Biography

George Bogart
Biography

George A. Bogart was born in Duluth, Minnesota on October 30, 1933 and died November 23, 2005 in Norman, Oklahoma. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota at Duluth in 1956, and his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington in 1959. He taught at the University of Texas in Austin for eight years, and then at Penn State University for three years. In 1970 he came to the University of Oklahoma as a full professor. In 1978 he had a yearlong appointment as visiting guest artist at the University of California in Berkeley. Upon returning to OU, Bogart continued to teach until his retirement in 1997, after which he twice taught classes as an Emeritus Professor.

George Bogart was an exceptional teacher, inspiring his students with his passion and extensive knowledge of art and painting. At museum exhibitions he would often have strangers following him around just to listen to his comments about the works on view. They would ask him questions, and he would spend as much time as they wanted talking to them and giving answers and explanations. He was generous with his time and attention to students, even when he was no longer actively teaching classes.

Bogart was a brilliant and prodigious painter with an innate feel for color and space. His work was exhibited all over the United States throughout his career. His work is included in numerous private and public collections including: the Isaac Delgado Museum in New Orleans, Illinois State University Museum in Normal, The Spencer Museum at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, The State of Oklahoma Art Collection, Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.