American artist
Abraham (Abe) Ajay (1919–1998) was an American artist who was best known for his artistic contributions for The New Masses magazine during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
[1] and also for his creative use of reliefs made of found objects during the 1960s and beyond.
[2] Abraham Ajay was born in
Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1919
[2] to Syrian immigrant parents.
[2] Ajay grew up working at his father's candy store and bar in Altoona until he graduated from high school.
[2] From an early age, Ajay had a passion for art and sought to harness his artistic abilities when he made the decision to move to New York City
[2] to study at the
Art Students League of New York,
[3] and the
American Artists School in Manhattan.
[3]
While studying in New York, Ajay became close friends with
The New Masses,
[3] who inspired him to begin working for the magazine.
[3] Ajay's contributions during the late 1930s and early 1940s to
New Masses were significant. Along with Reinhardt, Ajay helped to shape the artistic direction of
New Masses during a period where the magazine incurred financial hardships.
[1] Ajay's contributions of covers and cartoons helped to give
New Masses a strong artistic presence despite the overall decline of the magazine during the period.
[1] A lack of funding helped precipitate Ajay's departure from
New Masses and as the years went on, his support for Communism waned.
[1]In the 1960s Ajay began to produce reliefs made of found objects.[4] Later his often intricate constructions, created from tooled wood, gypsum and cast plastics, reminded may art historians of the sculptures of Louise Nevelson.[4] In addition, many critics believe that Ajay's work illustrates religious architecture. It was during this time period when Ajay achieved considerable acclaim within the art community.[2]
Ajay was a professor of visual arts at
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington.
[2] In addition, Ajay's work with
New Masses is available in existing copies of the magazine found throughout the country.
[1]References
- ^ a b c d e Langa, Helen. "'At Least Half the Pages Will Consist of Pictures': New Masses and Politicized Visual Art." American Periodicals: A Journal of History, Criticism, and Bibliography 21.1 (2011): 24-49
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cotter, Holland. "Abe Ajay, 78, Artist of Relief; Known for Boxlike Constructions." The New York Times. 14 Mar. 1998
- ^ a b c d e Corris Michael. Ad Reinhardt. London: Reaktion, 2008.
- ^ a b "Tweed Museum of Art: 50 Years/50 Art Works." University of Minnesota Duluth 21 Mar. 2012
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