Adger Cowans: Seen and Unseen

The artist is in his work. That is where you find him if you want to find him. Who he is, how he feels, what he thinks—and even that is limited. The artist is a living thing. He is always changing and growing older. — Adger Cowans

The Quarter Gallery at the University of Minnesota, in association with the University Libraries, is proud to present Adger Cowans: Seen and Unseen, a solo exhibition of photographs by the acclaimed American artist. Thirty gelatin silver prints, some of which have never been seen before, offer an archetypal span of the artist’s vision, talent, and spirit. From several thousands of negatives spanning sixty-eight years of photography by Cowans, 21st Editions publisher (photography and fine arts press), Steven Albahari, made an initial selection of 1500 images. A final grouping of fifty images emerged from a collaboration between 21st Editions and the curator, University of Minnesota Arts & Performing Arts Librarian, Deborah Ultan. This exhibition and related programming are made possible by support from the Department of Art, the University Libraries, Steven Albahari of 21st Editions, and an anonymous donor.

Public Program and Reception
Tuesday, October 14
6:00-8:00 pm | Register here

Join us for a casual conversation in the Quarter Gallery with the artist shaped by conversations and questions from University of Minnesota from 6:00-6:45 pm followed by a reception with light refreshments till 8:00 pm.

About the Artist
Adger Cowans, a fine arts photographer and abstract expressionist painter has experimented with a myriad of mediums over his artistic career. Adger attended Ohio University where he received a BFA in photography. He furthered his education at the School of Motion Picture Arts and School of Visual Arts in New York. While serving in the United States Navy, he worked as a photographer before moving to New York, where he later worked with Life magazine photographer, Gordon Parks and fashion photographer, Henri Clarke. His photographs have been shown and collected by the African American Historical and Cultural Museum in Washington D.C., The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney, The International Museum of Photography, The Museum of Modern Art, Studio Museum of Harlem, Cleveland Museum of Art, Harvard Fine Art Museum, Detroit Art Institute, James E. Lewis Museum, The Getty Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Arts. Numerous awards include the Lorenzo il Magnifico alla Carriera, in recognition of a Distinguished Career at the 2001 Florence Biennale of Contemporary Art, a John Hay Whitney Fellowship, and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Caesar Chavez, Rosa Parks Visiting Scholars Award from Wayne State University, and most recently, the Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award. Learn more at adgercowans.com.

About 21st Editions
Since 1998, 21st Editions publishing house and visionary Steven Albahari, along with co-founder and scholar, John Wood, have created an extensive collection of hand-crafted, fine press books that each focus on the word, image, and artisan binding. Over the years, this vision has evolved into publishing unique editions of artists’ books with photographers such as Adger Cowans, Flor Garduño, Sally Mann, Steve McCurry, Josephine Sacabo, and Joel-Peter Witkin, among others. In fall of 2018 the University of Minnesota Libraries, with the generous support of the Francis V. Gorman Endowment, now houses the complete 21st Editions Collection and serves as the repository for the entirety of the 21st Editions archive. Learn more at 21steditions.com.

About the Francis V. Gorman Collection
The Francis V. Gorman Rare Art Books, Media, and Artist Archives Collection, housed at the University of Minnesota Elmer L. Andersen Library, features art exhibition catalogues, artists’ books, zines, and artist archives that date from the 1500s to present.