Аронсон, Борис (Бер) Соломонович

Stage designer, painter, graphic artist, sculptor and art historian

Born Nezhin (Kiev area), 15 October 1900

Died New York, 16 December 1980

Aronson graduated, in 1916, from the State Art School in Kiev. He continued his studies at the Kiev School of the Theatre and there joined Alexandra Exter’s studio. In 1918, he began working with Kultur Lige, and became between 1919 and 1920 its acting manager. He became also the initiator for the museum of modern art in Kiev. In 1920 he took part in the first Jewish Art Exhibition in Kiev. During this time, he also co-authored an article with Ryback entitled Di Vegen fun der Yidisher Malerei” [Paths of Jewish Painting], published by Kultur Lige in the journal, Oifgang. In 1920, Aronson participated in the Kiev group exhibition of Jewish artists while also serving on the exhibition’s organizing committee. He left Russia in 1922 for Berlin, where he studied with Hermann Struck, and participated in the First Russian Exhibition at the Van Diemen Gallery. While in Berlin he also published two books, Marc Chagall and Con temporary Jewish Graphics (1924). Later that year Aronson immigrated to the United States, stopping first in Paris. Once in New York, Aronson worked as a stage designer at Unzer Teyater in the Bronx (1924-25), and at Maurice Schwartz’s Yiddish Art Theatre. His first solo show of designs, models and Costume drawings was held in 1927 at the Anderson Galleries, New York. During the 1930s he worked in Broadway theatres. He continued to work as a stage designer and to exhibit his work until the late seventies.

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1989