David Aronson arrived in this country when still a child, the family settling in the Boston area. He received his first lesson in art in 1936. While attending Hebrew Teachers' College, Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1938-39, he began attending classes at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, initially in the high school level classes, but entering the regular school in 1941 and remaining to 1946, studying with Karl Zerbe. He taught in the Museum school from 1942 to 1955. He received his first significant recognition in 1944, when his painting in the Boston Institute of Modern Art Members Show received both the First Judges' and First Popular prizes. His first one-man exhibition was presented in New York the following year.
Aronson works extensively in sculpture as well as painting, in which he has favored the encaustic medium. His subject matter is drawn from religious themes and images, predominately Judaic, but also Christian. His work has been widely shown, in Europe and Asia as well as America, and received numerous awards. The Academy has awarded him its Obrig prize, 1968; Samuel F. B. Morse Gold Medal, 1973; Maynard prize 1975; and Isidor Gold Medal, 1976.
In 1955 Boston University invited Aronson to organize its art school; he has been a full professor on the University's faculty since 1962. Aronson is represented by the Pucker-Safrai Gallery, Boston, and the Louis Newman Gallery, Beverly Hills, California.
