NYSWA FOUNDERS
The New York Society of Women Artists
Marguerite Thompson Zorach (1887-1968)
Lucile Lundquist Blanch (1895-1981)
Concetta Scaravaglione (1900-1975)
Today, the New York Society of Women Artists finds itself tasked with remaking itself. We aspire to birth new schools of art and encourage new avenues of exchange and discussion. As we embrace women who work in many diverse artistic styles from abstract to realism, we dedicate ourselves with a look to the future and a respect for our past.
Research by Rachelle Weisberger, Chair of the Keystone Committee.
Bena Frank Mayer (1898-1991)
Bena Frank Mayer’s beginnings were a far cry from a life she could have envisioned. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, she spent her early years in Wyoming when her father became a sheep rancher. In 1914, the 16- year old and her family moved to New York. There she studied at Cooper Union, the Art Students League, Hunter College, and also with Stuart Davis. Like many of her contemporaries, Mayer worked for the Federal Art Project. She was best known for her portraits and landscapes and exhibited her paintings in many prestigious group shows and won several awards. In addition to her artistic pursuits, she was an active participant in art-related organizations.
In 1927 Bena Frank married artist Ralph Mayer, He was also an authority on paint technology and the author of The Artist’s Handbook of Materials and Techniques. She helped research and edit several reference books he wrote for artists. Together they founded the nonprofit Artists Technical Research Institute at the Yale University School of Art in 1959.
When Ralph Mayer died in 1979, Frank Mayer was determined to preserve his legacy and their collaborative work. She was instrumental in re-establishing the Institute at Yale as the Ralph Mayer Learning Center in 1990.
An exhibit of her portraits and landscapes were held at Yale to coincide with the opening of the Center.
Throughout the years Bena Frank Mayer exhibited her works in over 100 traveling shows. She participated in many annual shows including the Whitney Museum, the Carnegie International, the Southern States Art League, Salons of America, and the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences. Her solo shows included Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts and a venue in Norfolk, Virginia.
Bena Frank Mayer was a member of Artists Equity, National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), and the Brooklyn Society of Artists. She was a founding member of NYSWA, and served as President from 1952-53 and also as Director.
Bena Frank Mayer died in Manhattan of a heart attack at age 93.