George Kozmon (b.1960)
Chagrin 2, 2022
Materials: Archival pigment print on acrylic panel, 3’ x 4’
Location at Summa: Second floor main lobby, Juve Behavioral Health Pavilion
George Kozmon’s Chagrin 2, 2022, overlays multiple photographs of the Chagrin River with U.S. Geological Services maps of the same area. The river’s many falls carve through Berea sandstone, various shale layers, and finally down to the bedrock of Chagrin shale. As a lifelong hiker and kayaker, Kozmon naturally integrates the maps he uses on his outdoor adventures with images of the landscapes they represent. Maps offer an abstract interpretation of place, while photographs provide a visual record, yet we read them differently and use each for distinct purposes. In this work, Kozmon fuses these elements to highlight their inherent contrasts and connections.
The image also captures the dynamic movement of water as it accelerates over a fall in the lower right portion of the composition. Kozmon enhances this sense of descent by repeating the map’s lower right corner multiple times beneath the image, reinforcing the downward motion. He subtly extends this movement by positioning this panel to the right of the others in the series.
Observe the shifting colors, textures, and water patterns Kozmon has layered throughout the piece. The churning water contrasts with the river’s glassy, tranquil surface in the upper left, emphasizing the dual nature of rivers, both energetic and serene. Through this thoughtful juxtaposition, Kozmon invites us to reflect on the river’s ever-changing character, filled with both unexpected turbulence and peaceful stillness.
Cuyahoga, 2022
Materials: Archival pigment print on acrylic panel, 3’ x 4’
Location at Summa: Second-floor main lobby, Juve Behavioral Health Pavilion
In Cuyahoga, George Kozmon layers photographs of the Cuyahoga River, taken within one of Cleveland’s Metroparks, over digital maps of the same area to merge natural imagery with abstract representations of place. The lush greens of summer, reflected in the river’s slow-moving waters, evoke a sense of stillness and quiet. These organic, almost dreamlike reflections contrast with the precise cartographic details that Kozmon preserves along the image’s upper and lower borders, grounding the scene in geographic specificity.
While Kozmon is best known for his monumental paintings, he sought to expand his artistic approach both conceptually and technically by integrating digital tools into his process. Rather than beginning with traditional sketches, he now captures landscapes through photography and combines them with layered digital maps to create hybrid compositions. Working digitally allows him to manipulate color, texture, and spatial relationships with greater flexibility, refining each element in Photoshop before finalizing the work. The finished image is then printed onto an acrylic panel, giving it a striking, dimensional presence as it appears to float off the wall.
This process also allows Kozmon to revisit and evolve his compositions over time, continuously exploring new ways to visualize the interplay between nature and mapping, as well as between personal experience and structured representation.
Focus, 2022
Materials: Archival pigment print on acrylic panel, 3’ x 6’
Location at Summa: Second-floor main lobby, Juve Behavioral Health Pavilion
While the flanking images in this series depict rivers winding through the Cleveland Metroparks, Focus shifts the perspective upward rising into the mountainous landscape of Switzerland’s Lauterbrunnen Valley, where artist George Kozmon has hiked since childhood. Multiple topographical maps underlie the photographic imagery, blending layers of time and place. Some of the photographs date back as early as 2018, yet the composition takes on new depth through digital manipulation. At the center, a transparent map-circle acts as a focal point, both grounding the scene and suggesting a celestial presence, like a moon rising over the peaks.
The grandeur of this image recalls the tradition of iconic landscape photography, reminiscent of the American West as captured by Ansel Adams, though this particular scene belongs to the Swiss Alps. Kozmon embraces digital tools as a means of both refining and reimagining his creative process. His recent explorations involve revisiting older images, allowing serendipity to guide their transformation into something unexpected.
The large-scale printing on acrylic requires specialized commercial equipment, a process that extends the artist’s vision into a collaborative effort with expert fabricators. By choosing archival pigments, Kozmon ensures the longevity of his work, aligning with a growing practice in contemporary art where digital files are shared across disciplines.
About the Artist
Raised in Cleveland and Switzerland, George Kozmon is an accomplished artist and educator. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1982, where he continues to inspire students as a faculty member in the Continuing Education and Community Outreach program. He also serves as a lecturer at Case Western Reserve University and the Orange Arts Center. Additionally, Kozmon is a trustee of the Hungarian Heritage Museum and has directed the Cain Park Arts Festival each summer since 1996.
Beyond his artistic practice, Kozmon has contributed to the art world as a writer, curator, and founder of THRIVE: an Artspace, which operated in Cleveland from 2002 to 2006.
Where You Can See More of This Artist’s Work
Kozmon’s artwork has been exhibited and collected both nationally and internationally. In Northeast Ohio, his work is featured in esteemed collections at the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Akron Art Museum, the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, and corporate collections such as the Federal Reserve and Progressive in Cleveland.
His monumental paintings are also included in public and private collections in Cologne, Germany; IBM Headquarters in Armonk, NY; and London. Kozmon has showcased his work in solo, two-person, and group exhibitions across Ohio, Florida, Oregon, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan. His commissioned works can be found at Halliburton Corporate Headquarters in Houston, TX; KeyCorp and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland; Turner Construction Company in Columbus; the Ritz-Carlton in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Ungerer GmbH in Pforzheim, Germany, among many others.
To explore more about Kozmon’s creative journey, recent projects, and artistic direction, visit his website. There, you’ll find exhibition videos, works in progress, a recent lecture, and a selection of his essays documenting his artistic practice.