Aug 25, 2016 — Dec 31, 2016
Awarded five Bronze Stars for his service in World War II, Pennsylvania native Syd Solomon (1917-2004) attended the Art Institute of Chicago before he joined the army. He served as a camoufleur, creating instruction manuals and camouflaging techniques that assisted in the lead up to the Normandy Invasion, in which he participated.
After the war Solomon attended the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and later settled in Sarasota, Florida. He became a prominent figure in the Sarasota art community, founding the Institute of Fine Art at New College and inviting influential artists, including Philip Guston and Larry Rivers, to teach there.
Recognized as one of the first artists to use acrylic paint, the artist also experimented with aerosol sprays and resists. By combining cutting edge materials with his camouflage experience Solomon realized his signature style in the 1970s.
Solomon exhibited regularly in New York City, where his paintings were collected by many museums, including the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.