George Samerjan: Paris and Los Angeles
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - Saturday, June 26, 2021
George Samerjan (1915-2005) was a noted California artist whose career started in Los Angeles and continued through his work on WPA post office murals, his WWII service -- during which he created vivid paintings of the military life around him -- and his postwar art career as an acclaimed painter in both oils and watercolors. This exhibition focuses on a series of wartime paintings he created in 1944 showing scenes of the Allied liberation of Paris, as well as some of his Depression-era and postwar work in and around Los Angeles.
Samerjan was born in Boston, Massachusetts on May 12, 1915. He moved to California with his family in 1921, and eventually settled in Hollywood, where he graduated from Hollywood High School. He studied under Barse Miller at Art Center School, and furthered his art studies at Chouinard and Otis Art Institutes.
During the 1930s he was art director at CBS Radio and painted murals in post offices in Culver City, Maywood, and Calexico, California under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration. During this time he also taught at Occidental College and Otis Art Institute. He opened his own art studio in 1940 on Sunset Boulevard, while sharing the rent with his friend Fletcher Martin (another significant California artist well-represented in the Hilbert Collection).
During World War II he served in Europe as a medical corps captain in the U.S. Army, painting many scenes of G.I. life in what spare time he had. He suffered serious injuries when his field hospital was bombed during the Battle of the Bulge, but saved others from the burning rubble. He was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Following the war, he was art director at the Los Angeles Times for two years. Upon moving to NYC in 1947, he became creative director for Esquire magazine, and taught at Pratt Institute.
Capturing natural beauty and historical moments through his artwork, Samerjan's paintings include landscapes, scenes from the Great Depression, his travels in Europe and Alaska during World War II, and familiar pastimes spent with family. His works reside in many major collections, and have been shown in the National Academy Galleries in New York City, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and other galleries and museums throughout the country. He also participated in group shows throughout the country for six decades, including exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution and the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, among many others.
When George Samerjan passed away in 2005, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in recognition of his service and significant bravery during World War II.
Mary Platt, Director
Image:
GEORGE SAMERJAN
From the 12 painting set titled “The Liberation of Paris”
Watercolor
The Bollman Collection, Orange County, California
Samerjan was born in Boston, Massachusetts on May 12, 1915. He moved to California with his family in 1921, and eventually settled in Hollywood, where he graduated from Hollywood High School. He studied under Barse Miller at Art Center School, and furthered his art studies at Chouinard and Otis Art Institutes.
During the 1930s he was art director at CBS Radio and painted murals in post offices in Culver City, Maywood, and Calexico, California under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration. During this time he also taught at Occidental College and Otis Art Institute. He opened his own art studio in 1940 on Sunset Boulevard, while sharing the rent with his friend Fletcher Martin (another significant California artist well-represented in the Hilbert Collection).
During World War II he served in Europe as a medical corps captain in the U.S. Army, painting many scenes of G.I. life in what spare time he had. He suffered serious injuries when his field hospital was bombed during the Battle of the Bulge, but saved others from the burning rubble. He was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Following the war, he was art director at the Los Angeles Times for two years. Upon moving to NYC in 1947, he became creative director for Esquire magazine, and taught at Pratt Institute.
Capturing natural beauty and historical moments through his artwork, Samerjan's paintings include landscapes, scenes from the Great Depression, his travels in Europe and Alaska during World War II, and familiar pastimes spent with family. His works reside in many major collections, and have been shown in the National Academy Galleries in New York City, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and other galleries and museums throughout the country. He also participated in group shows throughout the country for six decades, including exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution and the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, among many others.
When George Samerjan passed away in 2005, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in recognition of his service and significant bravery during World War II.
Mary Platt, Director
Image:
GEORGE SAMERJAN
From the 12 painting set titled “The Liberation of Paris”
Watercolor
The Bollman Collection, Orange County, California