The Reed Art Gallery at the University of Maine at Presque Isle proudly presents “Visions Real and Surreal: Paintings by Roger Morin (1944–2019)” from Dec. 5, 2025 to Feb. 21, 2026. Drawn from the substantial collection of paintings bequeathed to UMPI, this exhibition highlights the extraordinary range of Morin’s artistic vision—from classical realism to Impressionism, Surrealism, figurative imagery, and Abstract Expressionism.
The public is invited to view the exhibition throughout the show’s run and attend the opening reception, which is part of the Presque Isle First Friday Art Walk, on Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. The Reed Gallery is located on the second floor of the University’s Center for Innovative Learning. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.
A self-taught painter, Morin developed his formidable skills by studying and copying the works of great masters across centuries: the Italian Renaissance, the dramatic Baroque, the light-filled Impressionists, the dream worlds of the Surrealists, and the bold innovations of the Abstract Expressionists. This deep engagement with art history shaped his technical versatility as well as his imaginative breadth.
Throughout his career, Morin returned repeatedly to self-portraiture, painting himself in a wide range of styles, moods, and conceptual frameworks. These portraits served as both a record of his artistic development and an intimate documentation of his own aging and self-reflection.
In his youth, Morin was also a competitive bodybuilder, an experience that informed his interest in the expressive potential of the human form. Muscular physiques—idealized, symbolic, and allegorical—became a recurring subject in his work, reflecting his fascination with anatomy, strength, and the heroic figure.
Outside the studio, Morin was known as an avid chess master. A three-time Maine State Chess Champion, he also coached the Houlton High School chess team, mentoring young players with the same focus and dedication he brought to his painting. He was also an active member of the Houlton order of Masons, and his interests in science,philosophy, and history emerge throughout his paintings in symbolic imagery and layered narratives.
“I first met Roger in 2006, shortly after my arrival in Aroostook County, and we quickly formed a friendship rooted in our mutual love of art,” said Frank Sullivan, Director of the Reed Gallery. “We would often meet at each other’s studios to discuss painting techniques and art in general. He later became a chess mentor to my then 12-year-old son, teaching him the game and inviting him to join the high school chess team when he was still in seventh grade. I was always impressed by Roger’s commitment to excellence in everything he did, and his passion for continually learning more about the things he loved. I am excited to share this diverse selection of his work with the community.”
Together, the works in this exhibition reveal an artist of remarkable curiosity, imagination, and rigor—someone for whom painting was not only a craft, but a lifelong search for insight, expression, and meaning.
The Dec. 5 reception is free and open to the public, offering attendees the chance to meet with the gallery director and learn more about the artist and the featured works. Light refreshments will be served.
The Reed Art Gallery is located on the upper level of the Center for Innovative Learning in the heart of the UMPI campus, 181 Main St. in Presque Isle. Regular gallery hours during the academic year are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays from 2 to 8 p.m. The Reed Art Gallery is closed on Saturdays and holidays. For more information, contact Gallery Director Frank Sullivan at frank.sullivan@maine.edu or 207-694-1920.
The Reed Art Gallery at the University of Maine at Presque Isle serves as a cultural hub for the campus and surrounding community, showcasing a variety of exhibitions that promote creativity, education, and artistic expression.