At just a young age, Gora, a teenage artist from Denver, has already made a name for himself in the international art scene.
Despite being in his teenage years, Gora has successfully showcased his artwork in two international exhibitions after reaching out to venues in London and Helsinki, Finland, via cold emails.
His debut series of charcoal drawings, titled “Cities,” has captured the attention of art lovers and critics alike.
From August to mid-October, Gora’s works were displayed at the Helsinki Urban Art gallery, and one of his pieces remains on display at Kitchen Table, a prestigious double-Michelin-starred restaurant in London.
The series offers a unique perspective on urban life, depicting night skies over various cities around the world.
In his work, Gora illustrates stark differences in the visibility of stars in cities like “Helsinki” and “Vail,” where clear skies abound, compared to the smog-laden atmospheres of “London” and “New York City,” where light pollution obscures the cosmos.
Sandia Chang, co-founder of Kitchen Table, shared her admiration for Gora’s work, stating, “We love his enthusiasm and passion.
His work of art not only has meaning to him, but also we loved the London night he loaned us for display.”
In a recent interview, Gora shared insights into his artistic philosophy. When asked about his decision to maintain anonymity by only using his first name, he explained, “I want viewers to focus on the art, and its meaning and beauty.
Keeping that degree of anonymity allows them to focus entirely on the art and the emotions it evokes, rather than on me.
I think that layer of mysteriousness also helps to intrigue and draw people even closer into the actual artwork, while also adding a layer of privacy protection.”
Gora’s inspiration for the “Cities” series stemmed from a recent trip to the clean, serene mountains of Colorado, where he found inspiration in the purity of the night sky.
Upon returning to Denver and attempting to recreate that beauty, he was met with disappointment as the stars were nearly invisible due to urban light pollution.
This experience led him to explore and represent the environmental conditions of various urban landscapes through his art.
His creative process is highly research-oriented, taking into account the environmental state of each city he depicts.
Gora explains that the time spent researching often exceeds the time spent drawing.
He evaluates factors such as the number of star layers, the vibrancy of colors, and the background tonality for each piece.
For instance, his artwork titled “London” features a single grayish layer of stars, while “Helsinki” showcases vibrant stars against a matte black background.
Having two international exhibitions under his belt at such a young age is a profound achievement for Gora.
He reflects on the experience, stating, “It’s the pathway every artist wants.
Two international exhibitions within one month of publishing a series is very validating.
These countries that speak different languages, have different backgrounds—the people have seen my art and it resonates with them.”
Environmental activism plays a significant role in Gora’s work.
He emphasizes that the series serves as an urgent commentary on the environmental conditions of cities, aiming to evoke deep emotions and raise awareness.
The contrast between pieces like “Vail” or “Helsinki” against darker depictions of cities like “London” is intentional, designed to elicit feelings of sadness and concern.
“I’ve always viewed art as a form of activism,” Gora explains, noting that art can serve as a nonviolent means to provoke thought and inspire change.
Through his captivating charcoal drawings, Gora aims to foster a greater awareness of environmental issues and encourage viewers to engage with the planet’s urgent challenges.
image source from：5280
