Albert Kresch interview, 2018 December 5, 2018 December 5
Scope and Contents
In this interview, Mr. Kresch recalls his 95 years of life, including his childhood in Brooklyn, what inspired him to get interested in art, his student relationship with the artist Hans Hofmann, his time in the air corps during WW2, and his time at FIT, Parsons, and Pratt working as an art professor.
Dates
- Creation: 2018 December 5
Creator
- Kresch, Albert (1922 July 4-) (Person)
- Trivette, Karen Jamison (Person)
Language of Materials
English Latin
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to researchers by appointment at the Fashion Institute of Technology Library, Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive. If you have any questions, or wish to schedule an appointment contact us at [email protected] or call (212) 217-4385.
The contents of this collection are also available to the public via our Archive on Demand repository: https://archiveondemand.fitnyc.edu/items/browse?collection=22
Biographical / Historical
Albert Kresch is a New York School painter who lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. A member of the Jane Street Gallery in the 1940’s, he exhibited in later years at Salander O’Reilly and Lohin Geduld Galleries among others. He is best known for landscapes and still life compositions painted with evocatively rhythmic forms and vibrant colors.
Born in Scranton, PA, Kresch moved with his family to New York in the 30’s. He began studying figure drawing at the Brooklyn Museum, but soon enrolled in the Hans Hoffman School. Among his peers were Leland Bell, Louisa Mattiasdottir, Nell Blaine, Judith Rothschild, Robert De Niro Sr. and Virginia Admiral.
In the 40’s he exhibited abstract work in his first two shows at the Jane Street Gallery at a time when Abstract Expressionism was gathering steam. He soon embarked however on an independent path inspired by the French artist, Jean Helion to return to representation painting. Friendships with Poets Denise Levertov and Frank O’Hara reflect the breadth of his interests. His painting philosophy was a supject of Levertov’s poem, “The Dog of Art” and “Kresch’s Studio.”
Kresch won a Fulbright scholarship in 1953, aided in part by a letter of recommendation from Willem DeKooning. JHe was elected a member of the National Academy in 2005.
Biographical / Historical
Karen Trivette is the Head of the Special Collections and FIT Archive at Fashion Institute of Technology.
Full Extent
From the Sub-Group: 1 placeholder
Existence and Location of Copies
https://youtu.be/OYaInGYxEtk
General
Albert Kresch is a New York School painter who lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. A member of the Jane Street Gallery in the 1940’s, he exhibited in later years at Salander O’Reilly and Lohin Geduld Galleries among others. He is best known for landscapes and still life compositions painted with evocatively rhythmic forms and vibrant colors.
Born in Scranton, PA, Kresch moved with his family to New York in the 30’s. He began studying figure drawing at the Brooklyn Museum, but soon enrolled in the Hans Hoffman School. Among his peers were Leland Bell, Louisa Mattiasdottir, Nell Blaine, Judith Rothschild, Robert De Niro Sr. and Virginia Admiral.
In the 40’s he exhibited abstract work in his first two shows at the Jane Street Gallery at a time when Abstract Expressionism was gathering steam. He soon embarked however on an independent path inspired by the French artist, Jean Helion to return to representation painting. Friendships with Poets Denise Levertov and Frank O’Hara reflect the breadth of his interests. His painting philosophy was a supject of Levertov’s poem, “The Dog of Art” and “Kresch’s Studio.”
Kresch won a Fulbright scholarship in 1953, aided in part by a letter of recommendation from Willem DeKooning. JHe was elected a member of the National Academy in 2005.
General
Karen Trivette is the Head of the Special Collections and FIT Archive at Fashion Institute of Technology.
General
Published
Subject
- Hofmann, Hans (1880 March 21-1966 February 17) (subject, Person)
- Kresch, Albert (1922 July 4-) (subject, Person)
- Trivette, Karen Jamison (subject, Person)
- Educational Alliance (subject, Organization)
- Shapiro, Frank (subject, Person)
- High School of the Fashion Industries (subject, Organization)
- United States. Works Progress Administration (subject, Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and FIT Archive Repository