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After receiving his MFA at Carnegie Mellon University, Philip Rostek has exhibited regionally, nationally, and internationally, his work often inspired by the life and legends of St. Francis of Assisi. Philip's work is idea-oriented and decidedly autobiographical. In addition to being an accomplished visual artist, he has composed music for both theater and ballet. His book A Foreigner in Hades speaks of his experience in New York City during the volatile 1980s art scene. The miracle of a heart transplant has enabled him to further pursue his dreams without major interruption. He considers this to be fortuitous beyond anything reasonable or comprehensible, crediting his doctors at Presbyterian hospital as being 'uniquely inseparable' from the presentation of his modern work.

In his latest show, Remnants at 707 Penn Gallery, Philip explores his body of work through the lens of this "post-medical miracle," which deepened his belief that the relationship between art and life is best understood as a continuum that ties the iterations of his work together. Over his entire career, Philip has advanced the thesis that art can be anchored in Ritual, Remnants, and Reminiscing - what Philip calls the "Three Rs." Remnants revisits Philip's speculations, inquiries, and memories spanning the course of the last half-century in 20-30 works. These pieces, curated and rearranged, stand side by side with brand new works inspired by his recollections of the televised funeral of JFK, St. Francis Preaching to the Birds, bonobos and tadpoles, and his own heart transplant in 2008.

Saturday, October 23, 2021 | noon – 2 p.m. and 2 - 4 p.m. | Cultural District Gallery Tour

The guest curators of exhibitions currently on view at SPACE, 707, 820, and 937 Galleries are teaming up with DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh to offer a joint curators’ tour throughout the Cultural District. Participants will see the exhibitions: Among Women: Contemporary Art from Serbia; Antors; Remnants; and This Sacred Thing. Guest speakers include: Ian Brill, Zeal Eva, Natiq Jalil, Rachel Klipa, Keith Tassick, Phil Rostek, and Sam Smith. Tickets are $20. Space is limited. Masks are required. To register, please click HERE.