A Rochester artist, inspired by the works of abstract expressionists after World War II, will display his work at The Albert Lea Art Center for the next month.

The open house for the exhibit of Paul Walech-Roth will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Art Center, 226 W. Clark St.

Walech-Roth, 58, works full-time as a detention center deputy at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center. He said he received some training in art when he attended college at Winona State University and an art institute in Chicago — but most of that was studio art and drawing from life.

After some time away from the hobby, he said he picked up drawing again about five or six years ago when he was asked if he would be willing to teach a studio drawing class for the inmates in the jail.

A year or two later, he picked up painting and more recently has been interested in creating abstract art with a particular interest in artists such as Franz Kline and Jackson Pollock.

“The artwork is kind of a vehicle for me to express myself and my own sense of whatever spirituality is,” Walech-Roth said.

In his artist statement he said he paints so he can create something from nothing.

“Painting abstract frees me from the constraints of traditional and recognizable forms,” he said. “I’ve chosen acrylic paint and slow-drying medium to achieve a sense of spontaneity and immediacy, and I use my hands, a four-foot ruler and palette knives for physicality and randomness in my work.”

In the last four years, Walech-Roth has been trying to get his name out in the art community and has been featured at some shows throughout southern Minnesota.

In the show in Albert Lea, he said there will be three main bodies of work.

The first three pieces will be primarily red and blue and were quicker pieces done on a smaller scale of 30 inches by 40 inches.

One room will have the second set of paintings, which are mainly black, white and copper. He said those paintings are larger — 3 feet by 4 feet or 4 feet by 3 feet.

The last room will be paintings that are more wispily in nature.

“I try to do an honest job in my painting,” Walech-Roth said. “It’s a reflection of my understanding of light and how I’m able to translate it onto the canvas.”

If you go

What: Open house for artist Paul Walech-Roth

When: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Albert Lea Art Center, 226 W. Clark St.

Cost: Free

More info.: The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday through April 27