Experience Tioga Center to Present Exhibition of Works by Owego Native Gregory Stella (1947–2022)

Experience Tioga is proud to present an exhibition of artwork by Gregory Stella (1947–2022), a lifelong artist, Owego native, and accomplished illustrator, whose work will be publicly exhibited for the first time in his hometown. The exhibition will be on view throughout the month of June at the Experience Tioga Center on Front Street in Owego during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A public reception celebrating Stella’s life and work will be held on Friday, June 12, from 4 to 7 p.m., and is open to the public.

Although Gregory Stella painted for most of his life, his work remains largely unknown beyond family, friends, and colleagues. He rarely sought public recognition and did not pursue gallery exhibitions, creating primarily for his own curiosity, expression, and personal joy. His paintings, drawings, and prints reflect a deeply proficient hand, a strong illustrative foundation, and a lasting affinity for landscapes and portraiture rendered in many styles and media.

Born and raised in Owego, Stella often described himself as a “Flat Rat,” a local expression of working-class pride. That sensibility runs throughout his work. His portraits frequently depict subjects with humility and emotional depth.

Stella painted most prolifically between 1965 and 1980, and then again during the 2000s until his passing in 2022. His work spans pen and ink, colored pencil, woodblock printing, and acrylic painting, demonstrating his technical range.

In the late 1960s, Stella served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Del Rio, Texas, and Anchorage, Alaska, where his artistic skill was put to practical use. He created detailed instructional drawings used to teach fighter pilots during flight training.

In addition to his personal artwork, Stella completed a variety of commercial and design projects throughout his career. He produced illustration and design work for Southern Tier magazine, created graphics for the Broome County Dusters hockey team, and designed the cover art for the Todd Hobin Band’s 1978 self-titled album. He also worked for several regional graphic arts and printing companies, including Eastern Graphics, Dodge Press, Kenyon Press, and Golden Paints.

Despite these professional accomplishments, Stella’s art was rarely made for sale. Themes of peace, empathy, and social reflection emerge subtly throughout his work, from hand-made Christmas cards to portraits that honor endurance rather than iconography.

This exhibition offers visitors a rare and intimate opportunity to encounter the work of an artist who created it not for acclaim, but for his own curiosity. Many of the pieces on display reference the Southern Tier directly, while others echo it through mood, structure, and the steady gaze of the people he drew and painted.

“I hope you enjoy this glimpse into his work,” writes Stella’s son, Patrick. “Pieces he never created for admiration or profit, but mostly for his own curiosity, expression, and the quiet need to say something true.”

For more information about Experience Tioga and current exhibitions, visit experiencetioga.com.