The Art of Rudy Rotter

The artist Rudy Rotter (American, 1913-2001) created a special world within the borders of his many drawings and sculptures. The prodigious amount of artwork produced over four decades was an intense exploration into the interconnectedness of humankind.

The core of the artist’s vision is derived from Humanism. His elemental subject matter depicts primal family groupings, iconic figures such as Adam and Eve, Moses, and a host of cultural archetypes. Later an assortment of imaginary creatures was added, often set in a swirling context to represent the maelstrom of life.

The style of Rotter’s art is attributed to the Outsider and Self-Taught genres. The work is confident, intuitive, and viscerally abstract; a style he termed Primitive Expressionism.

At first glance the work appears to be naive and primitive, however a sustained and focused viewing informs the viewer that the art is both sophisticated and complex.

For 45-years Rotter obsessively created art daily in an unheated 100-year-old warehouse in the small Wisconsin town of Manitowoc, filling three large floors of his self-styled museum.

The Rudy Rotter Museum of Sculpture ceased to exist with his passing. The artwork remains in limbo and is waiting to re-enter public view.

A fresh effort is now underway to make this excellent art accessible, and to tell the story of this significant and under-recognized artist.

Major Exhibition 2024-25

Rahr West Art Museum — December 8 – February 16

Humanity Smiling On A Happy Sleeping Family
Magic markers on particle board – 12 x 30 in. – 1999

Larger image

See works @ …

– ArtworkArchive
– Instagram
– Pinterest
– Flickr (updated)

Resources

Revisiting | 2019 Essay
The consistent skill and intention of the artist
The Expertise of Rudy Rotter — from Early to Late Period | image

About : Who was Rudy Rotter
Wikipedia : The Artist as a Humanist
Exhibitions: CV – Exhibition List
Excerpt: A Portrait of the Artist – in his final year
Update: New Exhibition set for December 2024

Early to Late Period

Woman

Articles, Books & Exhibitions

Outsider Art Fair 2019 – Works on Paper | Booth #51 | NYC
Folk Art Messenger 2018 –A Warehouse Full of Dreams
Miracle of the Spirit 2005 – Stories from Wisconsin
Artist’s Letter 1995 – Memories
Let the Joy Come In – The Last Decade of Rudy’s Art

Instagram

Two Works by Rudy Rotter, self-taught artist — These two works show the extreme divergence of style seen throughout Rotter’s 45 years of art production.

View on Instagram

Videos

KCPT Kansas City, MO (2001)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (2008)

Book

Rudy Rotter’s Spirit-Driven Art

The Odyssey and Evolution of an Artistic Vision

by Anton Rajer

Rudy Rotter's Spirit Driven Art book

PDF format – large file / slow load
Online Slide Deck – fast load / lower quality

“His creativity is driven by a passion to convey a feeling about humanity. In the sanctity of his Buffalo Street studio, it doesn’t matter who or what is outside the door. Inside, his mind and imagination take him to places most ordinary mortals will only begin to know by looking at his work.”

QuickTime Movies of Rudy Rotter
CLICK IMAGES TO VIEW
(recovered low-quality thumbnail videos)