Abraham Ajay was an artist who was best known for his artistic contributions for New Masses magazine during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Background
And also for his creative use of reliefs made of found objects during the 1960s and beyond.Abraham Ajay was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1919 to Syrian immigrant parents. Ajay grew up working at his father’s candy store and bar in Altoona until he graduated from high school.
Education
Art Students League of New New York
Career
From an early age, Ajay had a passion for art and sought to harness his artistic abilities when he made the decision to move to New York City to study at the Art Students League of New York, and the American Artists School in Manhattan. Ajay’s contributions during the late 1930s and early 1940s to New Masses were significant. Along with Reinhardt, Ajay helped to shape the artistic direction of New Masses during a period where the magazine incurred financial hardships.
Ajay’s contributions of covers and cartoons helped to give New Masses a strong artistic presence despite the overall decline of the magazine during the period.
In the 1960s Ajay began to produce reliefs made of found objects. Later his often intricate constructions, created from tooled wood, gypsum and cast plastics, reminded may art historians of the sculptures of Louise Nevelson.
In addition, many critics believe that Ajay’s work illustrates religious architecture. During the latter portion of his life, Ajay busied himself with several academic endeavors.
Ajay was a professor of visual arts at State University College at Purchase, North.Y from 1978 until his health began deteriorating towards the mid to late 1990s.
Following a move back to Bethel, Pennsylvania, Ajay died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1998 at the age of 78. Ajay’s work is contained in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington. In addition, Ajay’s work with New Masses is available in existing copies of the magazine found throughout the country.
Achievements
Politics
A lack of funding helped precipitate Ajay’s departure from New Masses and as the years went on, his support for Communism waned.
Membership
With infantry Army of the United States, 1945.
Connections
Married Betty Raymond, December 16, 1947. Children– Alexander, Stephen, Robin.