Paul Zimmerman, Social Realist Street Scene of Youth at Play (African American)

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Oil on artist's board, late 20th century, signed "P. Zimmerman" lower right; [Sight: 8 1/2" x 20 1/2"; Frame: 12 … Read more Oil on artist's board, late 20th century, signed "P. Zimmerman" lower right; [Sight: 8 1/2" x 20 1/2"; Frame: 12 1/2" x 25"]. Reminiscent of the Mid Century Social Realist and WPA works of Ben Shahn this urban street scene sensitively captures a group of African American kids at play. Paul Zimmerman, N.A. (1921-2007). Paul W. Zimmerman was an internationally known artist and professor emeritus of the Hartford Art School. Born April 29, 1921, in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Robert Frazee and Ethel Pearl (Cramer) Zimmerman, Zimmerman passed away December 15, 2007 in Hartford, Connecticut. Always a great admirer of Cezanne, Zimmerman was particularly drawn to the French painter's innovations regarding space and the fracturing of the traditional picture plane. In 1947, Henrik M. Mayer, Director of the Hartford Art School at the time, invited Zimmerman to join the faculty. What began as a two-year agreement became a 40-year career. He remained true to his personal artistic vision throughout his long distinguished career and continued to work in his studio, remain engaged in the artistic community and teach part-time at the West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT throughout his retirement. A prolific landscape painter, Zimmerman's oils and watercolors are found in numerous museum, corporate and private collections, including the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts; the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts; the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; the Wadsworth Atheneum; The Slater Museum; the University of Notre Dame; Lehigh University; First New Haven National Bank and United Technologies Corporation. He was also commissioned to design a series of murals for Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. Zimmerman is listed in Davenport's, A Grand Tradition: Art and Artists of the Hoosier Salon, and Who was Who in American Art. Born in Toledo Ohio in 1921, he studied at the John Herron Art School and earned his BFA degree in 1946. His work has been represented by galleries in New York, Maine, Connecticut, Ohio, etc. He was an associate member of the National Academy of Design in 1959 and became a full member of the National Academy of Design in 1972. Zimmerman was also a member of the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts and the Connecticut Water Color Society. His work was exhibited at the famed Hoosier Salon Indiana in 1944, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1955. Also his work was exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery, John Herron Art Musuem Indianapolis, University of Illinois, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts annuals, Connecticut Water Color Society, the National Academy of Design, and the New Britain Museum of American Art. He won many awards such as: The Hallgarten Prize (1954); The Wallace Truman Prize (1956); The Salmagundi Club Prize from the National Academy (1962); Second Prize Butler Art Institute (1958); Members Prize, Boston Arts Festival (1964); The Patrick B. McGinnis Award, Berkshire Arts Festival (1961); Second Prize at Chautauqua (1955); The Howard Penrose Award, Connecticut Academy (1959); Third Prize, Kearney Memorial Regional Exhibition Milwaukee WI (1964); The Gertrude Melcher Springer Prize at the Indiana Exhibition (1959); First Prize, Connecticut Watercolor Society, the J. I. Holcomb Prize from the Herron Art Musuem (1955), and many others. Throughout his extensive career, Paul received well over 86 awards in both regional and national exhibitions. He was also elected a member of the National Academy of Design. His work can be seen in numerous museums, including the Slater Memorial Museum, Springfield Museum of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, Lehigh University and Houston Museum of Fine Art, as well as in many corporate and private collections. See less