Free talk with an art historian, a family member of Henry Koerner, a documentary filmmaker and preservationist to mark the 35th anniversary of the artist's death.
Henry Koerner's Once and Future Pittsburgh is at the Heinz History Center on Sunday, October 18, from 4 to 6 PM. The Rauh Jewish Archives are putting it on in partnership with Concept Art Gallery, and the whole thing is a tribute to Henry Koerner (1915–1991), an American artist who moved to Pittsburgh from New York in 1952. This year marks the 35th anniversary of his death, so it's a good time to look back at what he left behind.
Koerner was a Jewish refugee from Vienna, and he brought a brand of magical realism to his work that found new life in the city's epic vistas and gritty characters. The program is built around that: talks, film, and some insights into how his work has been preserved. The lineup brings together a few different perspectives on his life. There's a local art historian, a member of Koerner's family, and the documentary filmmaker who produced Henry Koerner: Lost and Found. Joining them is preservationist Caroline Boyce, who bought Koerner's Squirrel Hill home in 2021, so she can speak to the more personal, domestic side of his legacy.
Between the family connection, the art history, the film, and the house, the afternoon should cover a fair amount of ground—from the work he produced here in the city to the life he lived behind the scenes. If you're into the way a specific artist captures a city, this is right up that alley.
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It's free with advance registration, and it runs from 4 to 6 PM at the Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
