Mark Freeman Biography

Mark Freeman

American

1908-2003

Biography

Painter and printmaker Mark Freeman was born in Zaleszczyki, Austria, on September 17, 1908, and he came to the United States in 1923. Freeman first majored in architecture, earning both his BA and MA from Columbia University. There, he became known for his constant sketching, capturing the buildings on campus and the contruction of Riverside Church,George Washington Bridge, and more. At this time he also worked as an editor and graphic artist for the magazines Morningside and Varsity.

Following graduation in 1932, he traveled to Paris, where he earned a Diploma of Art at the Sorbonne. He then returned once more the New York and took a
dditional classes at the National Academy of Design. His early interest in architecture would prove to be a constant source of inspiration and Freeman would become known for his works chronicaling the growth of New York City, as well as the demolition of older structures to make way for new. He wa an early experimentor of the airbrush technique and would sometimes incorporate color onto his printed works using the relatively new medium. This included the futuristic images he contributed to the New York World's Fair, whose theme that year was "The World of Tomorrow." He was a member of the Audubon Artists and a lifetime honorary member of the Lotus Club. Among his noted solo exhibitions were shows at Hirschl & Adler Gallery and the Sylvan Cole Gallery. 

In addition to his career as an artist Freeman was a supporter of the arts in his community, and served at various times as president, vice president, or chairman of the American Society of Contemporary Artist (1975 - '77); the New York City Artists Equity Association (1976 - '83); the Artists Welfare Fund 1976 - '83); Board of trustees, Artists Fellowship (1981 - '88); and the Advisory Board, Artists Fellowship (1988 - 2002), among others.

Mark Freeman died in New York City on February 6, 2003.

Selected exhibitions:
Cincinnati Museum of Art (1951, '53, '55); Parrish Art Museum (1964; solo); Insitute of Arts and Letters (1968, 1969); 15 Artists of the Region, Guild Hall, East Hampton, NY; New Print Techniques, Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA; Printmakers of Long Island, Parrish Art Museum; South Fork Artists: from Childe Hassam to Jackson Pollock; Four Printmakers, Guild Hall; 80 American Prints, State Dept. Traveling Exhibition (Europe and North Africa); International Biennials of Color Lithography (various); Detroit Art Institute, MI )1990); Bergen Art Museum, Paramus, NJ (1990); Elliot Art Museum, Stuart, FL (1991).

Awards:
Honorary Life President, Audubon Artists
Honorary Life President, National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic
Associate Member, National Academy of Design

Selected collections:
Museum of Modern Art, NY
British Museum, London
Whitney Museum of American Art, NY
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
National Academy of Design, NY
Brooklyn Museum, NY
Queens Museum of Art, NY
Museum of the City of New York
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Hengeloose Kunstzaal, the Netherlands
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
National Museum of American History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington, D.C.
Butler Institute of American Art, OH
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Ithaca, NY
Norfolk Art Museum, VA
Elliot Museum, Stuart, FL
Fort Wayne Art Museum, IN
Holyoke Art Museum, MA
Springfield Art Museum, MA
Boston Library, MA
Wolfson Foundation, Miami, FL
Slater Art Museum, CT
Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, NY
Guild Hall, East Hampton, NY
Lotus Club, NY
Wichita Art Museum, KS
St. Vincent's College, PA
New Britain Museum of American Art, CT