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Mario AmayaAmerican art historian, museum director, magazine editor
Date of Birth: 06.10.1933
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Mario Amaya: A Visionary Art Curator and Pioneer
- Exploring Modern Art with Rothko's Support
- The Andy Warhol Shooting and Recovery
- Leadership in the Museum World
- Later Career and Legacy
Mario Amaya: A Visionary Art Curator and Pioneer
Early Life and Career in EnglandMario Anthony Amaya was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 6, 1933. After graduating from Brooklyn College in 1958, he moved to England and became an assistant editor for the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden's magazine 'About the House' from 1962 to 1968. During this time, he also founded and edited the influential 'Art and Artists Magazine' from 1965 to 1968.
Exploring Modern Art with Rothko's Support
Amaya's passion for modern art led him to study the movement for 35 years, including under the guidance of renowned abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. He published several notable books on art, such as 'Pop As Art: A Survey of the New Super Realism' (1965), 'Art Nouveau' (1966), and 'Tiffany Glass' (1967).
The Andy Warhol Shooting and Recovery
On June 3, 1968, Amaya was at Andy Warhol's office when radical feminist Valerie Solanas entered and shot several people, including Amaya and Warhol. Amaya sustained a minor gunshot wound to his right hip and recovered quickly after treatment.
Leadership in the Museum World
Amaya became a prominent figure in the museum world, holding key positions as Chief Curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario from 1969 to 1972 and Director of the New York Cultural Center from 1972 to 1976. Under his leadership, the Cultural Center became a vibrant cultural hub, hosting over 150 events in three years.
Later Career and Legacy
After serving as Director of the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia from 1976 to 1979, Amaya continued to mentor and lecture at various galleries and as a visiting professor at the University at Buffalo. He remained an influential figure in the art world until his untimely death from AIDS-related complications in London on June 29, 1986, at the age of 52.
Throughout his career, Amaya curated groundbreaking exhibitions, including 'Realism Now' (1972), 'Blacks: USA' (1973), and a Man Ray retrospective (1975). His legacy as a visionary art curator and pioneer of modern art continues to inspire and shape the field today.
