Emily Mason

(American, 1932–2019)

Emily Mason is a contemporary abstract painter best known for her vibrant abstractions which she created though thin layers of pigment. Influenced by Lyrical Abstraction, the artist utilizes the fluidity of paint to create spontaneous and emotive compositions. Born on January 12, 1932 in New York, NY, Mason is the daughter of Alice Trumbull Mason, a founder of the American Abstract Artists group. She studied fine art at Bennington College for two years, then transferred to Cooper Union to complete her degree. After her graduation in 1955, she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship in painting, and spent two years studying at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Venice. While traveling in Italy, Mason was inspired by the country’s Byzantine-era architecture and began creating Color Field-style paintings inspired by their color and form. The artist gained recognition after returning to New York and exhibiting her first solo exhibition at Area Gallery. In 1979, Mason began teaching at Hunter College in New York. Today, her works are in the collections of the Rutgers Archive in New Jersey and the National Academy Museum in New York. Mason currently divides her time between New York, NY and Brattleboro, VT.