Michael Benet Croydon

Background

Michael Benet Croydon was born on July 2, 1931 in Woodford, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. He is the son of Frank Edgar Croydon, a vicar, and Amelia (Orchard) Croydon, a homemaker.

In 1968, Michael immigrated to the United States.

Education

During the period from 1950 to 1951, Michael attended Goldsmiths College of Art (present-day Goldsmiths, University of London). In 1951, he enrolled at Ealing Art College and studied there until 1953. Croydon continued his studies and some time later, in 1956, he graduated from Royal College of Art.

Career

Since 1962 to 1968, Michael held the post of the head of design department at the University of East Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1964, he started to make radio art reviews for the Voice of Kenya in Nairobi, a position he held till 1967. The same year, in 1964, Michael Croydon was appointed a director of public television in Nairobi. He held this post during the next four years.

Also, beginning from 1967 to 1968, Michael worked at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of Kenya.

In 1968, he was appointed a professor of art at Lake Forest College. During the period from 1969 to 1971, Croydon worked as an artist-in-residence.

In 1979, Michael arranged the "Graven Image" collection of American artist Ivan Albright.

In 1982, 1985, 1988 and 1991, Croydon arranged International Holography Exhibits in Chicago. His sculptures were exhibited in several locations, including Lagos, London, Nairobi, Springfield, Chicago, Highwood, Highland Park and Lake Forest.

Achievements

• Michael's work is internationally recognized and represented in public and private collections throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Africa and Japan.
  
  In 1953, Croydon attained Sculpture Prize and in 1981 he received Inland Steel-Ryerson Award.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Ivan Albright 1995

• Other Work

  • 1991 fourth international exhibition of holography: Catalogue of holograms 1991
  • Graven image: The prints of Ivan Albright, 1931-1977 1978

Membership

Michael is a member of the American Association of University Professors, College Art Association, International Sculpture Center and Arts Club of Chicago.

Interests

• Sculpture, holography, music, the humanities

Connections

Blanche Pemberton was Michael's first wife. Some time later, the couple divorced and Croydon married Beverly Gay Hunter.

Michael has two children — Lucia Jane Oliver and Abigail Elizabeth.

Father:

Frank Edgar Croydon

Mother:

Amelia (Orchard) Croydon

child:

Lucia Jane Oliver

child:

Abigail Elizabeth

First wife:

Blanche Pemberton

Second wife:

Beverly Gay Hunter