Michael Frary Paintings

Tell-tale signs of modernist artist Michael Frary's architectural education are visible in many of his paintings.

 Plan View, 1954, oil on masonite, 17" x 48". via

Apartment, 1964, oil on masonite, 36" x 74". Early Texas Art, $18,000 at time of post

Beach Town, 1955, oil on masonite, 24" x 48". Early Texas Art, $7,300 at time of post

City on the Edge of Memory, mixed media on canvas, 43.75" x 52". William Reeves Fine Art, sold

Red Palace, 1959, acrylic on masonite, 36" x 48". Early Texas Art, $6,500 at time of post

Victoria Tower, 1966, mixed media on board, 40" x 30". Early Texas Art, $7,500 at time of post

 Drilling Rig, watercolor, 30" x 21". Heritage Auction Galleries, sold 2006

 Still Life with Cantaloupe, 1970, oil on masonite, 33" x 50". via

 Construction on the Beach, 1964, oil on masonite, 17.75" x 23.75". Bonhams, sold 2007

Still Life, oil on canvas, 20" x 24". Dallas Auction Gallery, sold

Six Eggs, oil on masonite, 18" x 24". David Dike Fine Art, sold 2008

Time and the Hour, 1948, oil on masonite, 20" x 16". Dallas Fine Art Auction, sold 2011

Michael Frary working in his studio. via

Noted Texas modernist Michael Frary (1918-2005) was influential as both an artist and educator. He attended USC on a swimming scholarship, where he earned a B.A. in Architecture  and a Master of Fine Arts in painting. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II he worked as an art director for various movie studios before becoming a full-time teacher at UCLA.  It was a faculty position in Koogler McNay's art school that brought him to Texas in 1949, but it wasn't until 1952 that he began his 34 year career as a professor at the University of Texas, where he was named Professor Emeritus of Art upon his retirement in 1986.  

Michael Frary worked in various styles and mediums during his career which spanned nearly 7 decades, producing everything from figurative scenics to abstract compositions. His works earned him over 175 awards and more than 200 solo exhibits and are housed in several private and public collections worldwide including the Smithsonian Institute. For more background on Frary click here.