biography of Paul KELPE (1902-1985)

Birth place: Minden, Germany

Addresses: Chicago (immigrated 1925); NJ (1926-30); NYC & Chicago (1930s); Austin, TX (1969-85)

Profession: Abstract painter

Studied: arch. at Art Sch., Hanover, Germany, 1920; Univ. Chicago (M.A., 1948; Ph.D., art history, 1957).

Exhibited: S. Indp. A., 1927-29, 1931, 1936-39; Little Gal., Chicago, 1931 (solo); Contemp. Arts Gal., NY, 1935 (solo); Maryland State Teachers College, Towson, 1953 (solo); AIC, 1931-35; WMAA, 1931, 1936, 1940; Am. Abstract Artists, from 1937; Am. Abstract Artists, Betty Parsons Gal., NYC, 1959; Am. Abstract Artists, Riverside Mus., New York, 1966; Citation Exh., Texas FAA, 1971; Geometric Abstraction of 1930s, Zabriskie Gal., New York, 1972

Member: Am. Abstract Artists (founder; treas., 1936-39; secy., 1939-41); Texas FAA

Work: Univ. New Mexico; Detroit IA; Howard Univ., Wash., DC; Maryland State Teachers College, Towson; Univ. Illinois, Urbana; Michigan State Univ.; Dept. Labor, Wash., DC; MoMA; WMAA; Indiana State Univ.

Comments: His works show a disciplined and formal approach to abstract painting in oils and watercolors which is informed by cubism, neoplasticism, and geometric abstraction. Teaching: Howard Univ. (1957-60), East Texas Teachers College (1960-69). WPA muralist, NYC, 1936-39.

Sources: WW73; Jacobson, Art of Today (Stein Publ., 1933); M. Candler Cheney, Modern Art in America (McGraw, 1939); The World of Abstract Art (Wittenborn, 1957). More recently, see Am. Abstract Art, 189