American, 1897 - 1983
Ivan and Malvin Marr (Zsissly) were twin sons, and frequent models, of Adam Emory Albright, painter of idyllic childhood scenes. The brothers were early set on the path to becoming artists.
In 1915, Ivan Albright entered Northwestern University, in Evanston, near Chicago, but did not stay through the academic year. He then studied architecture at the University of Illinois, Urbana, for two years. During World War I, Ivan was stationed in France where did he medical illustration of wounds. In 1920 he entered the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1923. The next fall he began studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; however, he was in New York for the spring semester at the NAD School, working under Hawthorne. In 1925, after traveling with his family, he and his brother took a studio together in Philadelphia. By 1927 the family was reunited in Warrenville, Illinois, where they purchased an abandoned church and converted it into studios. Albright began working in a tromp l'oeil manner in this decade of the '20s, laying the foundation for the exaggerated realist treatment of themes of decay and age for which he was especially known. In 1945 a retrospective for the twins was held at the Associated American Artists in New York; in 1964 a retrospective of Ivan's work was held at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Ivan Albright received Altman prizes in the Academy annual exhibitions of 1944 and 1961.
In 1915, Ivan Albright entered Northwestern University, in Evanston, near Chicago, but did not stay through the academic year. He then studied architecture at the University of Illinois, Urbana, for two years. During World War I, Ivan was stationed in France where did he medical illustration of wounds. In 1920 he entered the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1923. The next fall he began studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; however, he was in New York for the spring semester at the NAD School, working under Hawthorne. In 1925, after traveling with his family, he and his brother took a studio together in Philadelphia. By 1927 the family was reunited in Warrenville, Illinois, where they purchased an abandoned church and converted it into studios. Albright began working in a tromp l'oeil manner in this decade of the '20s, laying the foundation for the exaggerated realist treatment of themes of decay and age for which he was especially known. In 1945 a retrospective for the twins was held at the Associated American Artists in New York; in 1964 a retrospective of Ivan's work was held at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Ivan Albright received Altman prizes in the Academy annual exhibitions of 1944 and 1961.
