Aaron Berkman (1900-1991)
Aaron Berkman was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1900 and began studying painting from an early age. Beginning in 1916 he attended the Connecticut League of Art Students for two years, following which he studied with Albertus E. Jones from 1919 to 1921 at the Hartford Art School. Berkman stated that he was influenced during this time by George Innes and John Singer Sargent and the old masters.
Berkman received a scholarship to study at the Museum Art School of Boston from 1921 to 1924 and then spent the next year traveling throughout Europe.
During the years of 1926 to 1928, Berkman had one man shows at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Babcock Galleries, New York and Grace Home Galleries, Boston, Mass,
In 1929, during the Depression, he moved to New York City, continuing a friendship and painting relationship with Milton Avery. Berkman was appointed by the Federal Works Progress Administration to a position at the WPA Art Center of the 92nd Street Y in New York City where he was in charge of a seventeen member WPA artist faculty. The school gave free tuition and had several hundred students. During this period, with Herman Baron as Director, Berkman established the A.C.A. Gallery, the first Artist Cooperative Gallery in New York City.
When the government terminated the WPA program at the 92nd Street Y, it then became the Y Art Center, with Berkman remaining as the Director. In addition to being the Director, Berkman also taught classes there on Art and lectured on Art History. During this period, had one-Man Exhibitions at Stovola Gallery in Hartford in 1933, Erick Newhouse Galleries, New York City in 1935 and A.C.A. Galleries, New York City in 1932 and 1934 in addition to many group shows.
Berkman spent his summers from 1939 to 1945 on Mohegan Island, Maine in addition to summers on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, the Connecticut Shore, Vermont and the Adirondacks, where many of his works were painted.
Before Berkman retired from the Y Art Center in New York in 1965, he had additional One Man Exhibitions at Associated American Artists in 1945, Erick Newhouse Galleries in 1952, Babcock Galleries in 1954 Kaufman Art Gallery in 1945, 1952, 1962 and 1966 (all in New York City). He also participated in numerous group shows throughout New York and the East.
Berkman wrote two books, Art and Space in 1948 and The Functional Line in 1952. For five years he was a columnist for ART NEWS, writing a column entitled, “Amateur Standing”.
When Berkman retired from the position at the Y Art Center, he established Bercone Gallery, New York City, There, he continued to paint, teach and exhibit. His work appears in many corporate, private and museum collections.