Koor's Biography

Museum Collections
The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York City USA
Musee des Beaux-Arts Mons Belgium
The Groninger Museum Groningen Holland
Galleria Communale d'Arte Moderna Bologna Italy
The Smithsonian Institution Washington D.C. USA
Stadtiche Gallerie Goppingen Germany
The Detroit Art train Museum Detroit Michigan USA
Galerie der Stadt Esslingen am Neckar Esslingen Germany
The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngtown, Ohio USA

Solo Exhibitions
2010
"VIPAJI" Brussels, Belgium, May 2010 - June 2010
2009
"The 11th Letter" Brussels, Belgium, May 28 - June 28 2009
"The Time is Now" tba, Leuven, Belgium
"Chuck Koor Hargrove & Erena-Charly Boyarinoff" Maisons de Mode, Lille, France
"Chuck Koor Hargrove, Schilderijen en Objecten" Galerie DZD Art, Roermond, Holland

2008 "Chuck Koor Hargrove, Schilderijen en Objecten" Galerie DZD Art, Roermond, Holland
"Back to the Old School", Gallery 151, NYC, U.S.A.
"B-Lines", Gallery Artemisa, Brussels, Belgium

2006 "Seven Sources" Tempus Arte, Landen, Belgium

2006
"Seven Sources" Tempus Arte, Landen, Belgium

2005
"Koor" Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
"Microkoorsm" Fine Art Studio, Brussels, Belgium

2004
"Koor, Recent Works" Fine Art Studio, Brussels, Belgium
"The Sky's the Limit" Media Center Oostende, Belgium
"Reality Revisited" Sabine Watchers Gallery, Knokke, Belgium

2003
"Koor" Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
"Elevations" Privé Domein, Deurne, The Netherlands

2002
"Draftworks" Privé Domein, Deurne, The Netherlands
"B R K 13" Espace Blanche, Brussels, Belgium

2001
Arpegia, Brussels, Belgium
"Ciphopyr 2" Clos Cacao, Brussels, Belgium
"Sculptures Skriptonique" Ink Gallery, Brussels, Belgium

1999
"The Dawning Age of Aquarius" Fish and Chips, Antwerp, Belgium
"3D Skryptroniks" Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium

1998
"Monoliths vs. Pyroliths" Tour et Taxis" Brussels, Belgium

1997
"Reality Revisited" Greet Brauwers, Brussels, Belgium
Espace Terre Paix, Brussels, Belgium

1996
"KOOR" Axa Insurance, Brussels, Belgium
21st Inernational Kunst en Antiekbeurs, Knokke, Belgium
"KOOR" Festival Couleur Cafe, Brussels, Belgium

1995
"KOOR" Gallerie Dis, Maastricht, Holland

1994
City 2, Brussels, Belgium
"The Pyrolithic Cipher" Gallery l'Homme Qui Rit, Brussels, Belgium

1993
"B494" The Loft, Brussels, Belgium

1992
"KOOR" Hotel Eden, Antwerp, Belgium
"KOOR" Gallery l'Homme Qui Rit, Brussels, Belgium

1991
"KOOR" Gallerie der Stadt Esslingen am Neckar, Esslingen, Germany
"KOOR" Gallery M, Bayreuth, Germany
"KOOR" Maurice Keitelman Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
"Sail for Europe" Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium

1990
"KOOR" Art Boom, Deurne, Holland

1988
"KOOR" Gallery 69, New York City, U.S.A.
"KOOR" Maurice Keitelman Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
"KOOR" Forum, Hamburg, Germany

1985
"The Arbitrator KOOR" Cable Gallery, NewYrok City, U.S.A.
"The Arbitrator KOOR" Maurice Keitelman Gallery, Brussels, Belgium

1984
"The Arbitrator KOOR" West Central Graphics, New York City, U.S.A.

1983
"The Arbitrator KOOR" Lucky Strike, New York City, U.S.A.

1982
"The Arbitrator KOOR" Hostos Community College

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1994

1993

1992

1991

1989

1998

1987

1986

1985

1984

1982

1981

1980

Chuck 'Koor' Hargrove

When I think about language and communication, the first things that come to my mind are symbols and sounds. These have been topics in my artwork for as long as I can remember. The never ending quest to achieve purity and balance in calligraphy is the force behind my lettering styles. The strength of a symbol that sparks many words and images by it's mere simplicity is what drives my architectural side. Thus, I condense a universe of thoughts into symbolic ikons. Sound is defined through the combination of distorted perspectives and contrasting colors that are found in my artwork.

Each image gets repeated and revisited over and over until they flow from my hand without a preconceived plan. Spontaneity is the primary way that this can manifest. Because, the freeing of the mind from the body and reality from the said reality is what we all do every day, sometimes without even thinking about it. Sometimes it becomes a path of life. We repeat the same systematic steps in doing tasks. Just out of pure curiosity, we occasionally make random or premeditated changes to their execution. When we reflect on it afterwards, we get a print out in our mind of what we accomplished, what we realize to be a life experience. For instance when I draw a tower (which is a primary symbol in my artwork) with three pyramids on top of it, I see it as such the moment the drawing is completed. However at the same time I am seeing it as an entire city. I'm hearing the sound of the wind as it's passing in between the pyramids. In contrast, when described by another person, my tower becomes a bizarre candle with three flames dancing on top of it. Technically it is just ten interconnecting lines, but which definition is correct? For me, my reality is crystal clear. Is not the same valid for the other viewer?

In fact the variety of definitions are a given when we consider the power of symbols. When one looks at the star of David, we see it's geometric symmetry first. Then we begin to assimilate it to religious thoughts or perhaps to events in time. The same thing happens when we look at a crescent moon symbol. In fact there are millions of symbols that we see and use in daily life. The more we are exposed to them, the more powerful they become to us. The simple, yet complex assembly of lines and shapes gives us the possibility to communicate a thought without words. To make us smile remembering a happy thought. The strength to stop an oncoming train. To lead masses of people into temples of worship. The diversity of emotions triggered by symbols can even start wars.

That edge is what I'm looking for in my artwork. That absolute tension that captures you, giving you the freedom to question reality and the freedom to live.

-Koor