John Urbain, Artist

Born in Brussels, Belgium in 1920, John Urbain came to the United States with his parents at the age of two. The family settled in Detroit. Although working class and not well-to-do, it was a household in which art, music and intellectual pursuits were appreciated and encouraged. John's artistic talent was recognized at an early age and, lacking the funds for art school, his father posed for drawing classes so that John could participate. His father also arranged for him to attend Cass Technical School in Detroit, where he continued his focus on art.

In 1940, he was drafted into the army and went to Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan. His abilities were qucikly recognized and he was assigned to the Army Illustrators. He was soon commissioned to paint a large mural for the theater.  

Thanks to the G.I. Bill, John was able to continue his studies at Black Mountain College*, an innovative and well respected art school in North Carolina. Here he studied with Josef Albers, M.C. Richards and Max Dehn. Here also, he met Elaine Schmidt.

He and Elaine married and shortly thereafter, moved to Paris where John  continued his studies of art at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere and the Academie Julien. In Paris,  they immersed themselves in the bohemian lifestyle, re-experiencing the old world values of his childhood.

Upon their return to the United States in 1953, John became Art Director for Philip Morris Company and helped them to acquire an outstanding and diverse art collection that included many of his own works.  John continued his work with Philip Morris until his retirement.

During his long career as an artist, his works have been included  in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the National Museum of Art, the Detroit, Houston and North Carolina Museums of Art, and numerous private collections and galleries in the United States and abroad. 

In 1969, John and Elaine aquired property on Block Island , RI and created a summer home. Wherever they went, art was always a part of life. The scenery of Block Island, the mists, the rocks and the sea, were inspiration for many of the collage works that had become a primary means of expression for John.

Today, in retirement, John devides his time between residences in Ardsley, NY and Block Island. His devoted children, Catherine and Michael live near-by .

 *http://blackmountaincollege.org/

John Urbain - 1920 -

Ardsley, NY and Block Island, RI