Emergence, new paintings by Rob Kangas at CCCAC
Cynthia Cote
126 Quincy Street
Hancock, MI 49930
Contact: Bonnie Loukus (906) 482-2333
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/4/26
Exhibition: Emergence,
new paintings by Rob Kangas
Kerredge Gallery
May 7-30, 2026
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 7th 6-7:30pm
HANCOCK, MI – Emergence is the new exhibition in the Copper Country Community Arts Center's Kerredge Gallery featuring abstract paintings by Rob Kangas.
In his statement Kangas explains, "My artwork explores the space between internal and external landscapes, where light and darkness coexist and shift without resolution. Working in oil paint and collage, I build up thick, physical surfaces that carry a sense of weight, erosion, and time. These textures act as both barrier and entry point, obscuring and revealing the emotional core of my paintings. Solitary figures often appear within these environments, not as subjects to be explained, but as presences to be encountered. They exist in states of pause, distance, or quiet tension, mirroring the conditions we move through but rarely articulate. The landscapes themselves are not fixed places, but impressions shaped by memory, isolation, and time spent in the woods and along Mother Superior. I’m less interested in directing a specific interpretation and more interested in creating a condition for experience. Art, to me, exists in the space between the viewer and the work. Talking about those silent words and emotions you feel while viewing Art, is perhaps one of the most powerful forms of connection."
Rob earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he spent years developing his practice and exhibiting in numerous solo and group shows throughout the city. His time in Grand Rapids helped shape a disciplined studio approach while deepening his interest in materiality and emotional ambiguity in painting.
Kangas continues to draw influence from the solitude of the Upper Peninsula, spending time in wooded environments and coastal areas of Lake Superior. These experiences inform both the physical and emotional terrain of his work, where quiet, isolation, and introspection are central themes.
Everyone is welcome to the opening reception on Thursday, May 7th from 6 to 7:30. Refreshments will be served. Emergence will be on display in the Kerredge Gallery May 7-30, 2026. The Kerredge Gallery is located in the Copper Country Community Arts Center at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 11-6 and Saturday 10-2. For more information call (906) 482-2333 or visit the website www.coppercountryarts.com
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Founding Director and Curator
Copper Country Community Arts Council
126 Quincy Street Hancock, MI 49930
