Guttorn (Tori) Otto was born in 1919 near Lodz, Poland, one of a large family steeped in a background of art and music.  His father, a Lutheran minister, was also an acomplished artist and musician who encouraged his children in the study of these cultral pursuits.  In 1936 Guttorn Otto decided to concentrate his efforts in fine art, and to make his career in this field.
He spent several years in concentrated study with some of Europe's most noted teachers, including Professor Bordjuk, formerly of the Moscow Academy, Baroness von Aufsess and A. Kausler in Ansbach.  During this period he travelled extensively throughout Europe painting landscapes and studying the techniques of many European artists, among whom Herr Rosskopf of Reidenburg influenced him greatly.  In 1948 he was elected a member of the highly regarded professional Society of Creative Artists, the major art society of West Germany.
Guttorn Otto came to Canada with his family in 1952 and settled in Toronto, which is still his home base.  Since then he has travelled across the country many times, finding inspiration from the endless variety in the Canadian landscape.  A lover of nature in all its myriad forms, his works display a freshness and spontaneity typical of the best primivera artists.  In addition to landscape paintings, Mr. Otto is particularly noted for his striking floral, still life and seascape paintings.  Time when not painting or travelling is spent with much love in his garden. Now past 80, in addition to maintaining his productive pace producing art and teaching, he tends his large garden, plays the cello, discusses philosophy and windsurfs with his grandson.  Each year he drives across Canada and visits his galleries and allocates new works.  He is a man of incredible passion, vitality and humanity.
In great demand as a teacher, he presently teaches on a regular basis at several art schools and associations.  He has had many successful one-man exhibitions across Canada, the United States and Germany.  His paintings are in private and corporate collections in England, Austria, Jamaica, Poland, Germany and the United States as well as in major galleries across Canada.
Collections:  Ford Motor Corp., Steel Company of Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Canada, Reynolds Securities, Canadian Medical Association, Westbury Hotel, Molson Breweries, Mr J A Pirrie, Mr J C Layonde, Jiang Zemin, President, Republic of China.