(Click to Enlarge)
Oil on Board
25 1/2 x 24 inches
Signed Laynor ’56 lower right
Light loss, edge wear and light grime
Last origin Chicago
Harold A. Laynor was born in New York City in 1922 and embarked on his artistic journey at the age of 12, when he traded his stamp collection for an oil painting set. He attended the Art Students League in Woodstock, NY, and the Pan American Art School. He graduated from Parson’s School of Design. He earned at B.S. and M.S. from New York University and his doctorate from The State University of New York at Albany.
Laynor served his country in World War II by joining other artists, architects and designers as a member of the famed “Ghost Army”, the 603rd Camouflage Engineers. Wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, he convalesced in Paris and was able to study briefly with Pablo Picasso and was influenced by him throughout his career.
Laynor was Professor of Art Emeritus at Millersville University, Millersville, PA.. He was an Associate in Art Education for the New York State Department and was also the Superivsor of Art for the Poughkeepsie School District in New York State.
As a renowned artist nationally and internationally, Laynor won many prestigious awards including the Louis Comfort Tiffany , Guggenheim Fellowship and the Huntington Hartford Fellowship for painting. Laynor has exhibited in many important galleries and many of his paintings are included in special collections. Laynor’s World War II collection of paintings was exhibited all over the world.
These paintings were created during and immediately after the war. An exhibit in Washington, D.C. to coincide the World War II Memorial, as well as an exhibit in Luxembourg at the General Patton Museum to commemorate the liberation of Luxembourg were some of his last major exhibitions.