the artist

Gregory Coates

Gregory Coates

Allentown, PA

Gregory Coates

Coates’ work is made of found material – rubber bicycle inntertubes and pallets found on the street.  Coates believes there is beauty to be found in everyday material and he likes to manipulate the material into a “second” life of beauty.  Having spent some time in South Africa where virtually everything is scavenged, used, and reapplied by everyone (both artists and non-artists), it is apparent to Coates that sustainability through material reuse should be equally important to us in America.  Coates appreciates and respects the humbleness in which his fellow African artists treat simple material with real reverence and took particular note of that when creating Four Times Three Equals One (Philadelphia Variation) for the Pennsylvania Convention Center. 

Fast Facts

Name: Gregory Coates

Education:
Corcoran School of Art, Washington DC
Skowhegan School of painting and Sculpture, Maine

Notable or memorable instructors or mentors:
Al Loving (friend, older peer)
Richard Van Buren (older peer)
Italo Scango (Skowhegan)

Major influences/admired artists:
Minimalism, Art Povera, Gutai

Favorite materials or media:
Painting

School or university affiliation (when Convention Center acquired artwork):
School of Visual Art, New York City (visiting artists instructor)
Muhlenberg College, (sculpture instructor) 

Gallery Representation (when Convention Center acquired artwork):
N’Namdi Contemporary, Miami

Stay in Touch

Sign up to receive news about the PCC Art Collection at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.