Narrative Artist
(1904-2007)
Acrylic Painting On Canvas, 1985-1997
About the Artist
Abraham “Abe” Graber, came to the United States as a small child in 1906 from Odessa, Russia. He primarily lived in New York City and New Jersey, although he spent time living in Puerto Rico, Florida, and Maryland. As a young man, he hitch-hiked across the country and witnessed the poverty and misery that gave birth to this historic labor struggles of the last century. He was profoundly influenced by the events of his time, which heavily influenced his work. He worked in oils, watercolors, drawing, stained glass, wood cuts, pastels, mosaic tile, and murals.
His philosophy was epitomized by the statement: “My art developed in the midst of great economic upheaval. Recession and hunger followed the stock market crash. The malaise of helplessness ensued over the land. Reason was estranged from social, spiritual, and moral values. Inspired by Walt Whitman’s poetry, Leaves of Grass, my paintings evolved focusing on issues or reason and the human experience. The use of narrative helped me define and examine social and spiritual humanism.”
Education
1926: Studied painting with Arshile Gorky at the Grand School of Art
1927: Studied drawing with Boardman Robinson at the Art Students League
1928: Studied painting with A. Archipenko
1930: Learned fresco painting at the John Reed Club. Influenced by Mexican Muralists
1963: Learned the technique of illustrating leaded stained glass at the institute of culture while living in Puerto Rico
Profession
1932: WPA Art Teacher
1934-1937: Active Independent Display Artist
1965 – 1970: Established the Little Gallery in New Brunswick, New Jersey
1971 – Stained Glass Studio in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Exhibitions
1983: Retrospective Exhibition at the Baron Art Center, Woodbridge, New Jersey
1985: First Annual MLK Memorial Exhibition Group Show, Essex College, New Jersey
1987: Narrative Exhibition Without Walls, Newark, New Jersey
1988 – Tenth Anniversary Invitational Exhibit, Baron Arts Center, Woodbridge, New Jersey
1989: One person show of paintings and watercolors at the Palette Art Gallery, Somerset, New Jersey
1989: Rutgers University Seminary Group Show, New Brunswick, New Jersey
1989: One person show of paintings, drawings, and woodblocks at Middlesex County College, Edison, New Jersey
1992 – One person show, Rutgers University Labor Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey
1990’s George Meany Labor Center, Silver Spring Maryland
2007 through 2008 – All Faiths Beautiful, American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland