biography of Ralph MAYER (1895-1979)

Birth place: NYC

Death place: NYC

Addresses: NYC

Profession: Painter, writer, lecturer, conservator, teacher

Studied: Rensselaer Polytech. Inst. (chemistry); ASL, with Hayley Lever.

Exhibited: ann. faculty exhibs., Columbia Univ. School P&S, 1944-65; Portrait of Salons of Am., 1927, 1929, 1930; S. Indp. A., 1927, 1929; Portrait of Am., MMA & Traveling Show, 1945; Am. Soc. Contemporary Artists Ann., 1950-72; Ann. Faculty Exhibs., New School Social Res., 1958-65; Firehouse Gal., Nassau Community Col., 1967 (retrospective, solo); 49th Ann. Am. Soc. Contemp. Artists, 1966 ( Grumbacher Award); Nat. Art Ma. Trade Assn., 1969 (Am. Art Award, Man of Year in Art). Awards: Guggenheim Foundation fellowship, 1952.

Member: Am. Artists Cong.; Am. Soc. Contemp. Artists (first vice-pres.); fellow, Int. Inst. Conserv. Hist. & Artistic Works; fellow, Am. Inst. Chemists.

Comments: Expert on techniques and materials of painting. Married to painter Bena Frank Mayer. Positions: technical editor, Art Digest & Arts, 1950-55; director/founder, Artists Tech. Res. Inst., 1952-; tech. ed., Am. Artist, 1962-. Teaching: instr., Columbia Univ., 1944-64; instr., New School Social Res., 1958-65; instr., Silvermine College, CT, 1961-62; lecturer, ASL.