Theodore Odza

Theodore "Ted" Odza (1915–1998) was an American artist, curator, and educator, known for his sculptures and abstract paintings. He taught art classes at University of California, Berkeley, and later served as the chair of the art department of Laney College.[1] Additionally, he curated multiple national touring art exhibitions of Central European artists.[1][2]

Theodore Odza
Born(1915-01-07)January 7, 1915
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 19, 1998(1998-02-19) (aged 83)
Inverness, California, U.S.
MonumentsAbstract expressionism
NationalityAmerican
Other namesTed Odza
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
Occupation(s)Sculptor, painter, curator, educator

Biography

Theodore Odza was born on January 7, 1915, in New York City.[3] His father Herbert G. Odza, was born in Halych, Ukraine;[4] and his mother Lena (née Fischman) was born in New York City. There were six children in the family, five brothers and one sister.[4]

Odza graduated (B.A. 1959 and M.A. 1961, 1963) from University of California, Berkeley, where he studied under Sidney Gordin, Harold Paris, and Wilfrid Zogbaum.[3][5][6][7]

In the 1960s and 1970s, he made abstract expressionist metal sculptures, often constructed with steel or bronze.[3]

In 1963 to 1964, Odza taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw (Polish: Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Warszawie).[8] During his time in Poland he created many new artist connections, and in the following years he curated national touring art exhibitions of Central European artists. Most notably, he curated the exhibition Contemporary Painters from Hungary (1985) at Gallery Route One.[2]

Odza's work can be found in public museum art collections include San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,[9] and Oakland Museum of California.[10]

Personal life

Odza was married in 1940 to dancer Mimi Kagan, which ended in divorce in 1958. Odza married Janice Marie Gale Johnson in 1962.[11]

Exhibitions
  • September 1963 – Ted Odza and Mildred Lachman, Quay Gallery, San Francisco, California[6]
  • October 1963 – solo exhibition of metal sculpture, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, California[5][7]
  • June 1964 – solo exhibition, Gallery of Contemporary Art in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland[8]
  • February–April 1982 – Theodore Odza - Welded Steel Sculpture, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, California
  • July 1982 – Theodore Odza Sculpture, Douglas Elliott gallery, San Francisco, California[12]

References
  1. "Works of Hungarian Painters at SRJC". Newspapers.com. The Press Democrat. January 28, 1986. p. 15. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  2. "Gallery Features Hungarian Artists". Newspapers.com. The Press Democrat. July 28, 1985. p. 41. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  3. Albright, Thomas (1985-01-01). Art in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1945-1980: An Illustrated History. University of California Press. p. 302. ISBN 978-0-520-05193-5.
  4. "Herbert G. Odza". The New York Times. 1975-07-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  5. "Art Center to Hold Sculptor Exhibition". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune. October 21, 1963. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  6. Monte, James (September 1963). "James Monte on Ted Odza and Mildred Lachman". Artforum.com. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  7. Polley, E. M. (December 1963). "E. M. Polley on Ted Odza and Crown Point Workshop". Artforum.com. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  8. Exchanges and Cooperation with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Vol. 15. United States Department of State, Office of Soviet and Eastern European Exchanges. 1960. p. 33.
  9. "Odza, Theodore". SFMOMA. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  10. "Theodore Odza". OMCA Collections. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  11. "Marriage Licenses Issued". Newspapers.com. Daily Independent Journal. August 18, 1962. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  12. "The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California on July 11, 1982". Newspapers.com. The San Francisco Examiner. July 11, 1982. p. 267. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
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