biography of George MCNEIL (1908-1995)

Birth place: Brooklyn, NY

Death place: Brooklyn

Addresses: Laramie, WY in 1947; Brooklyn, NY, from 1948

Profession: Painter, printmaker, teacher

Studied: Pratt Inst., Brooklyn, 1927-29; ASL, 1930-33, with Jan Matulka and Hans Hofmann; Hans Hofmann School Fine Art, 1933-36; Columbia Univ. Teachers College (M.A., 1943, Ed.D., 1952)

Exhibited: MoMA, 1938; WFNY 1939; BM, 1941; Lyceum, Havana, 1941 (solo); Am. Abstract Artists, 1944, 1946; AIC, 1947, 1949; WMAA Annual, 1953, 1957, 1961 & 1965; Corcoran Gal. biennials, 1955, 1963; SFMA; US Info Agency Pan.-Am. Exhib., circulated Latin America, 1961-62; Yale Univ. Art Gal., 1961-62; PAFA Ann., 1962, 1966; Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT, 1962; Univ. Alabama (solo); Black Mountain Col. (solo); Egan Gal., NYC, 1950s (solo); de Young Mem. Mus. (solo); Poindexter Gal., NYC, 1950s (solo); Univ. Texas (solo); Howard Wise Gal. (solo); Des Moines Art Center (solo); Pratt Manhattan Center (solo); Landmark Gal. (solo); Guggenheim Mus.; "NYC WPA Art" at Parsons School Design, 1977; M. Diamond FA, NYC, 1979. Awards: Ford Foundation purchase award, 1963; Nat. Council Arts Award, 1966; Guggenheim fellowship, 1969.

Member: Am. Abstract Artists (founder); Nat. Educ. Assn.; CAA

Work: MoMA; NMAA; WMAA; Nat. Mus., Havana, Cuba; Newark Mus. Art; Walker Art Ctr., Minneapolis; mural, Williamsburg Housing Project, NY.

Comments: Abstract painter of the New York School. Position: WPA artist, 1935-40. Teaching: Univ. Wyoming, Laramie, WY until 1948; Pratt Inst., 1948-80; NY Studio School, 1966-81.

Sources: WW73; New York City WPA Art, 62 (w/repros.); American Abstract Art, 192; Diamond, Thirty-Five American Modernists; Falk, Exh. Record Series.