12/01/2025
Visions Real and Surreal: Paintings by Roger Morin (1944–2019)
The Reed Art Gallery at the University of Maine at Presque Isle proudly presents Visions Real and Surreal: Paintings by Roger Morin (1944–2019). Drawn from the substantial collection of paintings bequeathed to UMPI, this exhibition highlights the extraordinary range of Morin’s artistic vision—from classical realism to Impressionism, Surrealism, figurative imagery, and Abstract Expressionism.
A self-taught painter, Roger Morin developed his formidable skills by studying and copying the works of great masters across centuries: the Italian Renaissance, the dramatic Baroque, the light-filled Impressionists, the dream worlds of the Surrealists, and the bold innovations of the Abstract Expressionists. This deep engagement with art history shaped his technical versatility as well as his imaginative breadth.
Throughout his career, Morin returned repeatedly to self-portraiture, painting himself in a wide range of styles, moods, and conceptual frameworks. These portraits served as both a record of his artistic development and an intimate documentation of his own aging and self-reflection.
In his youth, Roger was also a competitive bodybuilder, an experience that informed his interest in the expressive potential of the human form. Muscular physiques—idealized, symbolic, and allegorical—became a recurring subject in his work, reflecting his fascination with anatomy, strength, and the heroic figure.
Outside the studio, Morin was known as an avid chess master. A three-time Maine State Chess Champion, he also coached the Houlton High School chess team, mentoring young players with the same focus and dedication he brought to his painting. He was also an active member of the Houlton order of Masons, and his interests in science, philosophy, and history emerge throughout his paintings in symbolic imagery and layered narratives.
“I first met Roger in 2006, shortly after my arrival in Aroostook County, and we quickly formed a friendship rooted in our mutual love of art,” said Frank Sullivan, Director of the Reed Gallery. “We would often meet at each other’s studios to discuss painting techniques and art in general. He later became a chess mentor to my then 12-year-old son, teaching him the game and inviting him to join the high school chess team when he was still in seventh grade. I was always impressed by Roger’s commitment to excellence in everything he did, and his passion for continually learning more about the things he loved. I am excited to share this diverse selection of his work with the community.”
Together, the works in this exhibition reveal an artist of remarkable curiosity, imagination, and rigor—someone for whom painting was not only a craft, but a lifelong search for insight, expression, and meaning.
The exhibition will be on view from December 5, 2025 to February 21, 2026, with an opening reception scheduled to coincide with the Presque Isle First Friday Art Walk on Friday, December 5 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The reception is free and open to the public, offering attendees the chance to meet with the gallery director and learn more about the artist and the featured works. Light refreshments will be served.
The Reed Gallery, located on the second floor of the Center for Innovative Learning in the heart of the UMPI campus. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.
Gallery hours are:
Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00am to 9:00pm
Fridays 8:00am to 4:30pm
Sunday 2:00pm to 8pm
For further information, please contact Reed Art Gallery Director, Frank Sullivan:
Email: [email protected]
Mobile phone: (207) 694-1920
About the Reed Gallery
The Reed Gallery at the University of Maine at Presque Isle serves as a cultural hub for the campus and surrounding community, showcasing a variety of exhibitions that promote creativity, education, and artistic expression.
