Ted Egri, Ted Egri Taos Modernist Judaica Cubist Bronze Sculpture Rabbi & Torah WPA Artist

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Ted Egri (American, 1913-2010) Bronze sculpture Rabbi Signed Egri and numbered 4/30 on side. Dimensions: 12"L x 8.5"H x 6.75" … Read more Ted Egri (American, 1913-2010) Bronze sculpture Rabbi Signed Egri and numbered 4/30 on side. Dimensions: 12"L x 8.5"H x 6.75" D Born in New York city in 1913 to a Hungarian Jewish emigre family (both of his parents were born in Hungary), Egri was first exposed to music later dropping that for art. He studied with Howard Giles at the Master Institute of the Roerich Museum in New York where he was introduced to Oriental arts, Chinese and Japanese art forms, and later with Hans Hofmann. He worked for the Federal Arts Project, the WPA, making mural paintings and silkscreen prints as well as easel painting. Once WWII began, Egri signed up to serve as a map maker for the Navy, and was witness to some of the fiercest battles in the Pacific. As an artist, he painted many important depictions of his wartime experiences and these works have all be donated to the U.S. Naval Museum. Already a practicing painter and instructor at the Kansas City Art Institute, Ted Egri came to Taos, New Mexico with his wife Kit in 1950 to continue his study of painting at Ribak's Taos Valley Art School on the GI Bill. Louis Ribak quickly introduced Egri to Eulalia Emetaz, the owner of La Galleria Escondida, who gave him his first one-person show in 1951. A prolific and versatile artist, as well as arts organizer and advocate, Egri's contributions to underserved African American, Native American, Hispanic and women were honored by two Taos mayors, with no less than two Ted Egri days during his 50-year art career in Taos. Egri remained in Taos. He became widely known for his sculpture, influenced by cubism and painting, with his style ranging from abstract to realistic. Egri had incredible draftsmanship - charcoal, pencil, pastel, watercolor, oils, mixed media, pen and ink, acrylic, gouache Over time his work gradually shifted from its focus on human struggle to an exploration of natural elements and the changes that come about as a result of living in a physical environment like Taos. "The impact of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range and the vast spaces of the mesas directed me toward space and form. I moved into sculpture," Egri said in a 1987 interview with ARTSPACE magazine. He was included in a show at Stables Gallery along with Emil Bisttram, Louis Catusco, Edward Corbett, Lawrence Calcagno, Keith Crown, Andrew Dasburg, John De Puy, Adeine de La Nöe, Ted Egri, R. C. Ellis, Louise Ganthiers, Barbara Harmon, Cliff Harmon, Bea Mandelman, Lee Mullican, Robert Ray, Louis Ribak, Wesley Rusnell, Oli Sihvonen, Clay Spohn, Earl Stroh and Michio Takayama and others. He is also included in the show Second Wave: The Beginning of a Post-War Era at 203 Fine Art, Norman Bluhm, John Chamberlain, Richard Diebenkorn, Ted Egri, Leo Garel, Fred Hammersley, Janet Lippincott, Beatrice Mandelman, Louis Ribak and others. In 1996, Egri received the Governor’s Award of Excellence in the Arts. Selected Sculpture Commissions Tramway Park, Albuquerque, NM Temple B’Nai Israel, Albuquerque, NM Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX Northern Iowa University Campus, Cedar Fall, IA City of Santa Monica, CA Temple Sinai, Champaign, IL Temple Shalom, Dallas, TX Ave Maria Church, Parker, CO Frank Waters Memorial, Taos, NM See less