The Flomenhaft Gallery was proud to present Paul Brach’s exhibit Recent Paintings. Paul died on Friday, November 16. This exhibit was truly his “last hurrah.” Knowing how ill he was, painting these works eliminated fear, eliminated doubt, and gave him life, joy, and strength. Isn’t that what creativity is all about?
And what works they are! Paul was always a consummate colorist and these paintings are his most vivid. He was always a lover of the Arizona landscapes and of horseback riding. In these works he combines the two loves and immerses himself in these fondest memories.
Married to Miriam Schapiro, they spent the years 1951-67 in New York City. He worked in Hayter’s Studio 17 on 8th Street in the Village where he met and became friends with Joan Mitchell, Mike Goldberg, Larry Rivers and many others, showed at the Stable Gallery Annuals, helped Leo Castelli plan his gallery and was one of the first to show there. According to Irving Sandler, “In the late 1950’s, Paul Brach was among the first New York School painters to direct abstract expressionism in a vital new direction. Since then he has explored the possibilities of this radical move in a singularly individual manner.”(2007)
In 1967 Paul was offered the chair of the new art department at the University of California at San Diego and then he became the founding Dean of the School of Art at California Institute of the Arts. Under his guidance, Cal Arts became on the of best and most recognized art schools in the country.
In 1975, Paul and Mimi returned to the New York art world. He became the Chair of the Division of the Arts at Fordham University at Lincoln Center. After three years, he gave up administration and teaching and devoted himself to his first love, his painting. In 1998, Paul and Mimi moved to their home in East Hampton.
We deeply mourn Paul’s passing.