Mario Amaya
Encyclopedia
Mario Amaya was an American
art critic, museum director, magazine editor and former director of the New York Cultural Center (1972–1976) and the Chrysler Museum of Art
in Norfolk, Virginia (1976–1979). He was also the chief curator of the Art Gallery of Ontario
(1969–1972) and the founding editor of London’s Art and Artists Magazine. He studied Art Nouveau
for 35 years, some of this under the teaching of artist Mark Rothko
.
Mario Anthony Amaya was born in Brooklyn
in 1933, and after graduating from Brooklyn College
in 1958, he went to England and became the assistant editor of the Royal Opera House
magazine About the House from 1962 to 1968, and while still in England became the founding editor of Art and Artists magazine from 1965 to 1968. Amaya also wrote books on art, such as Pop As Art: A Survey of the New Super Realism (1965), Art Nouveau (1966), and Tiffany Glass (1967).
On June 3, 1968, Mario Amaya was in Andy Warhol
’s office when radical feminist Valerie Solanas
opened fire and shot both Amaya and Warhol. Amaya, 34 at the time, was discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment of bullet grazes on his back.
While in his curatorial positions he mounted major exhibitions of Art Nouveau
. For example, “Realism Now” (1972), “Blacks: USA” (1973), “Women Choose Women” (1973), “Bouguereau” (organized with Robert Isaacson, 1975), and a retrospective of photographer Man Ray
(1975). When he became the director of the New York Cultural Center in 1972, he helped strengthen the Center’s position as one of the liveliest of New York’s museums at the time. Amaya used his position at the Cultural Center to house over 150 shows in three years. Amaya also contributed to many galleries, and lectured and acted as a visiting professor of the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Amaya never married. He died of complications of AIDS on June 29, 1986 in hospital in Kensington and Chelsea
, London, at the age of 52.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
art critic, museum director, magazine editor and former director of the New York Cultural Center (1972–1976) and the Chrysler Museum of Art
Chrysler Museum of Art
The Chrysler Museum of Art is an art museum in the Ghent district of Norfolk, Virginia. The museum was originally founded in 1933 as the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences. In 1971, automotive heir, Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. , donated most of his extensive collection to the museum...
in Norfolk, Virginia (1976–1979). He was also the chief curator of the Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario
Under the direction of its CEO Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO embarked on a $254 million redevelopment plan by architect Frank Gehry in 2004, called Transformation AGO. The new addition would require demolition of the 1992 Post-Modernist wing by Barton Myers and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg...
(1969–1972) and the founding editor of London’s Art and Artists Magazine. He studied Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
for 35 years, some of this under the teaching of artist Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko, born Marcus Rothkowitz , was a Russian-born American painter. He is classified as an abstract expressionist, although he himself rejected this label, and even resisted classification as an "abstract painter".- Childhood :Mark Rothko was born in Dvinsk, Vitebsk Province, Russian...
.
Mario Anthony Amaya was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in 1933, and after graduating from Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
in 1958, he went to England and became the assistant editor of the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
magazine About the House from 1962 to 1968, and while still in England became the founding editor of Art and Artists magazine from 1965 to 1968. Amaya also wrote books on art, such as Pop As Art: A Survey of the New Super Realism (1965), Art Nouveau (1966), and Tiffany Glass (1967).
On June 3, 1968, Mario Amaya was in Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
’s office when radical feminist Valerie Solanas
Valerie Solanas
Valerie Jean Solanas was an American radical feminist writer, best known for her attempted murder of Andy Warhol in 1968. She wrote the SCUM Manifesto, which called for male gendercide and the creation of an all-female society.-Early life:Solanas was born in Ventnor City, New Jersey, to Louis...
opened fire and shot both Amaya and Warhol. Amaya, 34 at the time, was discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment of bullet grazes on his back.
While in his curatorial positions he mounted major exhibitions of Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
. For example, “Realism Now” (1972), “Blacks: USA” (1973), “Women Choose Women” (1973), “Bouguereau” (organized with Robert Isaacson, 1975), and a retrospective of photographer Man Ray
Man Ray
Man Ray , born Emmanuel Radnitzky, was an American artist who spent most of his career in Paris, France. Perhaps best described simply as a modernist, he was a significant contributor to both the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal...
(1975). When he became the director of the New York Cultural Center in 1972, he helped strengthen the Center’s position as one of the liveliest of New York’s museums at the time. Amaya used his position at the Cultural Center to house over 150 shows in three years. Amaya also contributed to many galleries, and lectured and acted as a visiting professor of the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Amaya never married. He died of complications of AIDS on June 29, 1986 in hospital in Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
, London, at the age of 52.
Sources
- Amaya, Mario. Art Nouveau. Studio Vista, Ltd., London, 1966;
- Bourdon, D. "New York Museum Crisis: Two Bite Dust." Art in America, vol.63, No.5, 1975;
- Russell, John. "Mario Amaya, 52, Art Critic, Editor and Museum Director," The New York Times June 30, 1986;
- Russell, John. "Obituary," Art in America, vol.74, 1986;
- The Globe and Mail No. 36968, June 4, 1968.