Emily Mason

Who is Emily Mason?

Emily Mason is an American abstract painter.

Mason is known for her work in color field painting and lyrical abstraction. She was born and raised in New York City, where she continues to reside.

Emily Mason was born in Greenwich Village, New York City in 1932 to Alice Trumbull Mason and Warwood Edwin Mason. Her mother was a founder of the American Abstract Artists. Her father was sea captain for American Export Lines. She attended The High School of Music & Art from 1946 to 1950. She attended Bennington College from 1950 to 1952. In 1952, Emily transferred from Bennington College to the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, She graduated in 1955.

In 1956, Emily was awarded a Fulbright grant to study in Italy. Before moving there, she met fellow painter Wolf Kahn, who later joined her in Venice. They were married there in March 1957. Her work earned her a second year of the Fulbright grant. In late 1958 the couple returned to New York. Emily gave birth to their first daughter Cecily in 1959. In 1963 the family returned to Italy. Their daughter Melany was born in Rome in 1964.

Emily’s career began to flourish in the 1960s. She was awarded her first solo exhibition in 1960 at the Area Gallery in New York City. In the intervening years, she has had many solo exhibitions. Mason continues to exhibit her paintings in New York at the David Findlay Jr. Fine Arts and LewAllen Gallery in Santa Fe. There is a book on her, Emily Mason: The Fifth Element written by David Ebony.