Background
Mazur, Michael was born on November 2, 1935 in New York City. Son of Burton Boris and Helen (Isaacs) Mazur.
Mazur, Michael was born on November 2, 1935 in New York City. Son of Burton Boris and Helen (Isaacs) Mazur.
Bachelor, Amherst College, 1958. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Yale University, 1959. Master of Fine Arts, Yale University, 1961.
Doctor of Philosophy in Fine Arts (honorary), Lesley College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2002. Doctor of Fine Arts (honorary), College Creative Studies, Detroit, 2006.
He was described by William Grimes of The New York Times as "a restlessly inventive printmaker, painter, and sculptor."
Mazur first gained notice for his series of lithographs and etchings of inmates in a mental asylum, which resulted in two publications, "Closed Ward" and "Locked Ward." Over the years, he moved easily between printmaking and painting, and between the figure and abstraction. In recent years, he concentrated on creating large, lyrical paintings which make use of his free, gestural brushwork and a varied palette. Some of these paintings were seen in an exhibition of 2002 at Boston University, "Looking East: Brice Marden, Michael Mazur, and Pat Steir." (See also Susan Danly, "Branching: The Art of Michael Mazur," 1997).
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has acquired a definitive collection of Mazur"s prints.
Trudy V. Hansen authored a catalogue raisonne of Mazur"s prints in 2000. Mazur"s work is widely owned by museums including the Chicago Art Institute, the British Museum, The Fogg Museum, the Philadelphia Museum, Whitney Museum, Yale Art Gallery, and many others
He was long active as a teacher and supporter at the Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Co-founder Artists Against Racism and the War, 1968. Board directors Artists Foundation, co-chair, since 1995. Board directors Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Member Massachusetts Council on Arts and Humanities. Member Pennell committee Library. of Congress, 1983-1993. Founder, director Art for Nuclear Weapons Freeze, 1983-1984, New Provincetown Print Project, 1990-1995.
Chairman board Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center. Overseer Museum Fine Arts, Boston.
Married Gail Lewis Beckwith, December 28, 1958. Children: Daniel Isaac, Kathe Elizabeth.