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Exhibit: Samuel Kahn, Ph.D. + Friends at Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries (Norfolk)
January 30 - May 16
On View: Jan. 30 – May 16, 2026
The Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries are pleased to present Samuel Kahn, Ph.D. + Friends, an in-depth exploration of the art, methods, and inspiration behind the work of Connecticut based self-taught artist Samuel Kahn (1927-2007). Kahn’s playful drawings, sculptures, and plaques tell the story of his connection to the New England landscape, his close study of environments and wildlife, and art as a conduit for feeling and emotion. Kaleidoscopic yet firmly rooted in place, Kahn’s visionary work evokes the artistic legacies of no less than Norval Morrisseau, Henri Rousseau, and James Castle.
His works are accompanied by works from the Kahn family, including those of wife Renee Kahn and son Ned Kahn – both accomplished contemporary artists. Works also loaned from the Barry Art Museum at ODU complement Kahn’s style rounding out a cast of “friends” reminiscent of the ecological connections Kahn focused on representing in his work. Like the ecology Kahn attempted to represent, this exhibition demonstrates how self-taught art and contemporary art traditions overlap, intermesh, and influence each stylistically, materially, and relationally.
