Myron Kozman papers, 1938-1954

Old Resource ID was MKozman

Primarily known for his work in abstract expressionism, Myron Kozman (1916-2002) received his degree from the Chicago School of Design in 1941, and was in the school's first graduating class. Founded by Bauhaus artist Lazlo Moholy Nagy, the Chicago School of Design had a strong focus in industry and craftsmanship. The Bauhaus movement was committed to merging visual aesthetics with everyday practicality; its founders believed that with a focus on intelligent design, artistic ideals could be productively applied to a variety of industrially produced items. Thus Kozman's education was infused with the both the philosophies of the Bauhaus movement and Moholy-Nagy's own experimentalism. As Kozman's close friend and mentor, Moholy-Nagy encouraged Kozman's interest in avant-garde techniques such as cameraless photography (the dripping of emulsion on photographic paper) and serigraph printing. During the late 1930s, Kozman also produced several abstract paintings for the Works Progress Administration which were displayed in public venues across the city.

After he received his degree, Kozman enlisted in the army and spent some time abroad with the military. During this time, he not only served as a soldier during the second World War, but also collaborated with two of his fellow alumni to produce a magazine titled Continuity. Upon his return to the United States, Kozman began working as an instructor at the Chicago School of Design (which has since changed its name to the Institute of Design). In 1948 he married his fellow graduate Lois Field, also an accomplished visual artist. Kozman continued teaching visual design and printmaking at the Institute of Design until 1954. Then, in the 1960s, Kozman served as the head of the design department at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee. His work has been exhibited internationally and is owned by several museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Library of Congress, and the Block Gallery at Northwestern University.

This collection reflects Myron Kozman's personal and professional life between the years of 1938 and 1954. Documents in this collection also deal with the philosophies, projects, curricula, and faculty of the Chicago School of Design. Material in this collection includes lectures, curriculum descriptions, academic papers, correspondence, poetry, book reviews, projects, meeting minutes, schedules, reports, and a poster. Folders are organized chronologically.

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Myron Kozman papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Names
  • Chicago School of Design.
  • Illinois Institute of Technology. Institute of Design.
  • Kozman, Myron, 1916-2002 -- Archives
• Subject
  • Artists.
  • Chicago Design History.
• Geographic CoverageIllinois--Chicago.