At the age of 18, Andrew Rogerson made a decision that would affect the rest of his life. Should he follow his love of art or his passion for science? 

“Since the age of 14, I have painted very seriously in oils,” said Rogerson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “When I was 18, I had to make a decision on whether to become a scientist or go to the Glasgow School of Art. I chose science, but never lost my love of art.”

While following a distinguished career in research and higher education, Rogerson continued his artistic pursuits as a painter and photographer.

Rogerson’s landscape paintings, as well as highlighted works from the UA Little Rock Annual Student Competition, will be on display from May 9-31 at the UA Little Rock Art Gallery 1 in the Fine Arts Building. The exhibition is part of Rogerson’s investiture celebration, with the ceremony taking place at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the Jack Stephens Center on the UA Little Rock campus.

“Andrew Rogerson paints landscapes with a photographer’s vision,” UA Little Rock Gallery Director Brad Cushman said. “The world as seen through a lens influences his view of the natural world. His paintings are often the result of photographs he has taken that inspires him to reinterpret the image through painting.”

Rogerson’s paintings have been influenced by the places he has lived during his career as a microbiologist, research scientist, professor, and administrator. They include landscapes from the lush green of Scotland to the coastlines of northern California as well as the mangrove ecosystems in coastal Florida and the verdant landscapes of central Arkansas.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. The UA Little Rock Art Gallery 1 is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, contact UA Little Rock Gallery Director Brad Cushman at becushman@ualr.edu or 501.569.8977.