Guttorn Otto was born in 1919 near Lodz, Poland, into a large
family steeped in a background of art and music. His father, a Lutheran
minister, was also an accomplished artist and musician, who encouraged
his children in the study of these cultural pursuits. In 1936, Guttorn
Otto decided to concentrate his efforts on fine art, and to make his career
in this field.
He spent several years in concentrated study with some of Europe's
most noted teachers, including Professor Bordjuk, formerly of the Moscow
Academy, Baroness von Aufsess and A. Kausler in Ansbach. During this period
he travelled extensively throughout Europe painting landscapes and studying
the techniques of many European artists, among whom Herr Rosskopf of Riedenburg
influenced him greatly. In 1948 he was elected a member of the Professional
Society of Creative Artists, the chief art society of Western Germany.
Guttorn Otto came to Canada with his family in 1952 and settled
in Toronto. Since then he has travelled across the country many times,
finding inspiration from the endless variety in the Canadian landscape.
A lover of nature in all it's myriad forms, his works display a freshness
and spontaneity typical of the best primavera artists. He confines his
work to two basic media, oils and watercolour. In addition to his landscape
paintings, Mr. Otto is particularly noted for his striking floral, still-life
and seascape paintings.
In great demand as a teacher, he presently teaches on a regular
basis at several art schools and associations. He has had many successful
one-man exhibitions across Canada, the United States and West Germany.
His paintings are in private collections in England, Austria, Jamaica,
Poland, West Germany and the United States as well as the following galleries.
GALLERIES
Carmel Art Gallery Ltd., Ottawa, Studio 737 Art Gallery, Tweed,
Ontario, Artworld of Sherway, Etobicoke, Ontario, Westmount Gallery Ltd.,
Toronto, Loch-Mayberry Fine Art Inc., Winnipeg, Douganne Fine Art, Schomberg,
Ontario, Graham Sayell Galleries, Vancouver, The Art Emporium, Vancouver,
Assiniboia Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan, The Hambleton Galleries, Kelowna,
B.C., Gainsborough Galleries Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
COLLECTIONS
Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd., Oakville, Ontario Steel Co. of
Canada, Hamilton, Ontario, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Toronto,
Ontario, Canadian Medical Association, Ottawa, Ontario, Reynold's Securities,
Toronto, Ontario, Westbury Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Mr. J. A. Pirrie, Toronto,
Ontario, Mr. J. C. Lyonde, Toronto, Ontario, Molson Breweries Ltd., Permanent
Collection Jiang Zemin, President, Republic of China
Now at age 80, in addition to maintaining his productive pace
producing works of art and teaching, he tends his large garden, plays the
cello, discusses philosophy and when the opportunity arises, windsurfs
with his son and grandson.
