Al Gury: Painting and Purpose

Joins us for the opening reception of Al Gury: Painting and Purpose, an exhibition celebrating the legacy of the beloved painter, educator, author, advocate, and friend.  

For more than 38 years, Al shaped the life of PAFA with extraordinary dedication, generosity, and care. A PAFA alumnus and Cresson Traveling Scholarship recipient, he returned to the Academy as a teacher and became one of its most enduring voices in painting, drawing, figure drawing, anatomy, art history, and art education.

As Chair of Painting from 2000 to 2022, Al helped guide generations of artists through the discipline, rigor, and poetry of the studio. He believed deeply in the power of art education, not only as technical training, but as a way of helping students discover who they were becoming. His influence extended far beyond the classroom through PAFA’s free After-School Studio Arts Program for Philadelphia-area high school students, which he founded and directed, opening the doors of art-making to young people across the city. PAFA’s own 2024 reflection on the program described Al as a Philadelphia-based artist, educator, and writer whose work explored harmony, color, composition, and “visual poetry.”

Al’s legacy also lives through his paintings, his three books on painting and drawing, his teaching at institutions across Philadelphia and beyond, and his lifelong commitment to community, advocacy, and care. He gave quietly and generously, encouraging students who needed support, helping those struggling to afford supplies, and believing in artists before they fully believed in themselves.

The exhibition includes a range of works that highlight is extensive painting career.  It also showcases his pedagogical approach through the display of color studies, figure sketches, and teaching tools.  A selection of student work honors Al's incredible influence as a teacher, who continually brought patience, conviction, humor, discipline, and an open heart to the classroom.