BOTANICAL VIRTUOSITY:
The Remarkable Watercolors of George Mauersberger
Opening Friday, November 13
On view through Saturday, January 30
Occupying a space between botanical illustration and still life, between plant and flower, science and decoration, Mauersberger’s floral compositions offer a distinctive contemporary interpretation of the centuries-old tradition of representing the natural world.
Cleveland, OH – WOLFS is pleased to present the exhibition and sale of works by nationally recognized Cleveland realist, George Mauersberger.
The exhibition brings together over twenty recent works on paper, highlighting the artist’s epic botanical compositions in watercolor. While Mauersberger’s practice encompasses a wide range of subject matter, his floral still lifes have attracted particular critical acclaim. Fellow artist, painter, and writer Douglas Max Utter captured the essence of his achievement, observing, “[H]is all-but-psychedelic depictions of flowers and landscapes are all about getting closer to the grain of things, exploring touch and depth and the complexity of visual experience.” Art critic Steven Litt offered equal praise, describing Mauersberger’s “transformative” ability to “convey the ecstatic huminousity of sunlight falling across flower petals.”
Mauersberger attended Pratt Institute before earning a BA from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1978 and an MFA from Ohio University in 1983. Early in his career, he worked as an illustrator for Industry Week, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Magazine, and Ohio Magazine. He subsequently spent 32 years teaching in the Department of Art at Cleveland State University, where he was named Professor Emeritus in 2019.
His work has been honored in over 50 shows, including the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Annual May Show and, more recently, the Butler Institute of American Art's Annual Midyear Exhibition. He won Best in Show and Best Drawing at the National Juried Exhibition at Majestic Galleries, the Rockford Midwestern, and the Cambridge Art Association. Recently, Mauersberger has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Bonfoey Gallery in Cleveland, OH, and the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, OH. His work has been supported by fellowships through the Ohio Arts Council and the Cuyahoga County Arts and Culture. Notable commissions include Key Corp, Behnke Associates, the Cleveland Guardians, and Calfee Halter. His pieces are in the collections of University Hospitals, Progressive Corporation, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, and many others.
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Minnesota State Flower (for Renee and Alex), 2026
Opening Friday, November 13th, 5:30-8pm
On view at WOLFS Tuesday-Saturday, 11-5 pm through January 30th