Education:

  • Elisabeth Irwin High School, was graduated, 1955

  • Provincetown School of Painting (Studio 10), Irving Marantz, Director
    Summers: 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1960
    Winters: 1953-54, 1954-55

  • Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Henry Varnum Poor, Ann Poor, Sidney Simon, Abbott Patteson, Williard Cummings, Summer 1955

  • University of Wisconsin, Warrington Colescott, 1955-56

  • Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.), Russell Limbach, B.A. 1959

  • Indiana University, James Mcgarrell, Rudy Pozzatti, June 1959 to January 1961

  • Pratt Institute, Robert Richenberg, Al Blaustein, Mercedes Matter, Walter Rogalski, M.F.A., June 1962

Honors, Awards and Grants:

Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Scholarship and honorable mention, 1955

  • Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society, University of Wisconsin, 1955-56

  • Monitorship, Provincetown, School of Painting: 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961

  • High Distinction in Art, Honors in General Scholarship, Class of 1959, Wesleyan University

  • Thorndike Distinction Award, Wesleyan University, 1959

  • President, John Wesley Club, 1958-59, Wesleyan University

  • Wesleyan summer study grant, 1957

  • Summer Grants for one man Exhibitions, Cornell College, 1964 (for exhibition at East end Gallery in Provincetown), 1968 (for De Mena Gallery, N.Y.), 1972 (for exhibition at Ohio State Cornell College), 1982 (for exhibition at the Century Center, South Bend, Ind.), 1983 (for exhibition at the Stone City Art Gallery, Stone City, Iowa), 1986 Exhibition Cornell College, 1987 (for preparation of a course in computer graphics)

  • Summer Grant for Teaching of Computer Graphics, Cornell College, 1987

  • A.C.M. - N.Y. State Department of Education, Non Western Studies Grant for Seminar on Islamic Art, Columbia University, 1966

  • Humanities Travel Grant to Greece, Cornell College/Ford Foundation, 1969

  • Cornell Travel Grant to Turkey and Iran, 1973

  • HEW Grant to London, 1976

  • NEH Grant to Study Chicago Architecture, 1984

  • Award from Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa for outstanding volunteer service, 1989

Papers Given (not at Cornell College):

  • "Body Works, an Historical Account", MACAA, October 1982

  • "Change in Islamic Art", Midwest Art Historical Society, March 1983

  • "From Artisan to Courtier", Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, February 1984

  • "Chicago C. 1975, and the Medici Circle in Florence at the Turn of the 16th Century", MACAA, Memphis, October 1986, on the general subject "Modernism, Post Modernism, on the panel which involves Historical Parallels"

  • Crispin makes a Drawing", National Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists, School of Visual Arts, N.Y., November 1987

  • Crispin as Hacker", 2nd National Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists, School of Visual Arts, N.Y., November 1988

  • "Liberal Arts and the Fine Arts, a Report on a Symposium held at Cornell College", 4th National Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists, School of Visual Arts, N.Y., November 1989

  • "Charles Moore and Post Modernism", Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, January 1990

  • "Crispin Advises Pygmalion", 5th National Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists, School of Visual Arts, N.Y., October 1991

  • Confronting the confusion between Nudity and Sexism, 8th National l Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists, School of Visual Arts, N. Y., N. Y. October, 1993

  • The Artist and the Philosopher can be Friends, a new look at Platonic Epistemology for the Millenium." 10th National Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists, school of visual Arts, N. Y., N. Y.) October 1998

Publications:

  • Wesleyan Cardinal, (Art Editor and Contributor)

  • Folio (published by the English department of Indiana University), drawing in spring issue, 1960

  • Wesleyan Argus, Art Critic, 1958

  • North American Review, illustrations and reviews, 1964, 1968--mentioned in article by Richard Kostelanetz, Winter 1970

  • Illustrations in Assembling 8th and 10th ed.

  • Work Cited in Metamorphosis, Richard Kostelanetz, Assembling Press, 1981

  • Listed in Who's Who in American Art, 1987 ed.

Collections (partial listing):

  • University of Wisconsin

  • Wesleyan University

  • Davenport Art Museum (now called The Figge Art Museum)

  • Alan Shestack, Chief Curator, Deputy Director, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

  • Chaim Gross Museum

  • James Mcgarrell, artist

  • Irving Marantz, artist

  • Arthur Collins, C.E.O. Collins Radio

  • Collins Radio

  • Leonard Bocour, C.E.O. Bocour Artists Colors

  • S.U.N.Y. Potsdam

  • Carl Shorske, Professor of History, Pulitzer prizewinner

  • Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

  • Coe College

  • St. Leo College

  • Richard Kostelanetz, artist, poet, critic

  • Norval Tucker, Assistant Chair, Dept of Art, Emeritus, University of Iowa

  • Bob Baffert

  • James Novak, Architect

  • Kirkwood College

  • University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics: Project art
    Larry Shiner, Author, The Invention of Art

Critical Comments:

"...should elicit interest and enthusiasm from experienced viewers." Dorothy Aadlow, Christian Science Monitor, October, 1958

"Lifson...has discovered unexpected aesthetic qualities in polyolifinics which, without him, might have languished in the money making whirls of big business...find(s) effectiveness in the use of unfamiliar shapes, whose novelty stirs the mind." Arts, December, 1968

"Lifson's canvases...present...misty air saturating the space." Art News, December, January, 1968, 1969

"Hugh Lifson's new work is lit up and turned on. It burns and shines on the wall. From foil, seran and paint he makes an imperious, essential stuff. It asks not only for the eye, but for your complete involvement. And gets it." Robert Patrick Dana 1966, Poet

"Lifson's thought provoking paintings, collages and drawings can be appreciated on many levels...Lifson layers transparent and opaque images and physically attaches paintings in unexpected ways, coaxing us to ponder balance--and the lack of it, in our lives, in nature and in art." Judith Winter, Cedar Rapids, Gazette May 2, 2004

Teaching and Consulting Experience:

  • Student Teaching (under Mercedes Matter), Pratt Institute, Spring, 1961

  • Instructor, Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art, 1961-1962

  • Associate Professor, (Department Chair) LeMoyne College, Memphis, Tenn., 1962-1963

  • Assistant Professor, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, 1963-73, Department Chair, 1971-74, 1979-87. Full Professor, 1982-1999
    Professor Emeritus 1999

  • Visiting Lecturer, Drake University, March 1970

  • Visiting Lecturer, Bristol Polytechnical Institute, Bristol, England, February, March, 1980

  • NEH seminar leader on Adam Smith, one session, Cornell College, Summer 1987

  • Member of Iowa Arts Council Task Force on the Climate of the Arts in Iowa, 1988

  • Consultant on how to introduce the liberal arts into the fine arts curriculum, Gustavus Adolphus College, February 1988

Exhibitions:

  • Gallery ’72, Omaha Ne. ’06,’07

  • Modern Masters Fine Art, Santa Fe NM, ’06

  • Infusion Gallery, Group Exhibition, July, '05, June 06, Los Angeles Ca.

  • LREI Annual Invitational, and Auction N.Y.C.,’06, ’05,’04, ’03, 0’01, ’61,’58

  • Exhibitor, Eclectic Eye, Davenport, Ia.’06, '05

  • Ginsberg's Jewelers, May '04, Cedar Rapids, Ia.

  • Space Gallery, Mt. Vernon, Ia. '04, 05

  • Water Tower Place Art Show, July, '04 Cedar Rapids, Ia.

  • One Person Show, Kirkwood College, Neilson Galleries, "Balanced, Unbalanced," spring '04

  • Exhibitor: Art in the Market Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa

  • "Wind and Water," 2nd prize, The Hearst Center for the Arts, Cedar Falls, Ia.

  • Exhibitor, The Galleries Downtown, Iowa City, Iowa

  • Exhibitor, Artworks Gallery, Mt. Vernon, Ia. Till spring 2006

  • “From Durham to Thrisk, Mt. Vernon, Visitor’s Center, 2003

  • "Who We Were Then: Who We Art Now" (Iowans interpret Sept. 11, 1001), Aug--Oct. 2002, Hearst Center for the Arts, Cedar Falls, Ia.

  • Infinite Respect, Enduring Dignity, Voices & Visions on the September Attacks, University of Iowa, Jan 2002

  • Retrospective Exhibition, Cornell College, “The Cornell Years”, October-December, 2001

  • River Market Regional Exhibition, Kansas City Artists Coalition, July/August, 20001, Kansas City, Mo.

  • One Person Exhibition, University of Iowa, Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa. December, - February, 2000, 2001

  • Faculty Exhibition, Luther College, Decorah Ia., October-November, 2000

  • “Into the Woods”, Kirkwood College, Cedar Rapids, Ia. October-November, 2000

  • Faculty Exhibition, Kirkwood College, Cedar Rapids, Ia, October, 1999

  • “Beyond the Edge,” Cedar Rapids Ia. July 1999

  • Retrospective of Computer Graphics, Iowa State University, May/June 1999, Heritage Hall, Lisbon Ia. July 1999

  • 5 Linn County College Faculty Shows, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Ia. Fall 1997, Fall 1998.

  • Installation of "The Shul at Ulla" at the Eighth Annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum, Luther College, Feb. 1996

  • The Pet Show, CSPS alternative space gallery, Cedar Rapids, Spring, 1995

  • Mid America Annual, Kansas City Atkins Nelson Museum, St. Louis Municipal Museum, 1995, 1994, 1987, 1983, 1981, 1968, 1964

  • Holiday Show, CSPS alternative space gallery, Cedar Rapids, Ia. Nov. 1993

  • "Show your Face": CSPS alternative space gallery, Cedar Rapids, Ia. Feb. 1993
    Art Center, Johnson County Art Center Installation "My History of Art", Iowa City, Ia. Nov. 1993

  • Continuing Exhibitor, The Stan Wiederspan Gallery, Cedar Rapids, Ia.

  • Collaborative Piece with Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano, Variations on a Theme: Computer Images and Music entitled "The Shul at Ulla", September 1991, Iowa Composer's Forum

  • Iowa Colleges, Heritage Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa, September 1991

  • One Person Show, Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, December 1989

  • Faculty Exhibition, Gustavus Adolphus College, October 1989

  • Photography Invitational, Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, October 1988

  • Cornell Faculty Show, Kirkwood College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, October 1988, 2000

  • Group Show, Computer Studio, N.Y.C., June 1987, and continuing exhibitor 1987--1990

  • Juried Show, Heritage Gallery's, "Iowa Exhibited", honorable mention, Des Moines, Iowa, June 1987

  • Banc Iowa, Invitational, Cedar Rapids, June 1986

  • 1 Person Show, Stone City Gallery, June 1982

  • Exhibitor, The G & G Gallery, Vinton, Iowa, 1983

  • 1 Person Show, The Jail Gallery, Dubuque, Iowa, November 1981

  • Faculty Show, Mt. Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, March 1980

  • Faculty Show, Cedar Rapids, Museum of Art, 1979, 1985, 1987, 1990

  • Group Show, Frank Marino Gallery, N.Y.C., November/December 1978

  • One Person Show, Extension 4 Gallery, Dubuque, March 1978, October 1980

  • 4 Person Show, Ward Nasse Gallery, N.Y.C., January 1978

  • "Ten Iowa Artists", Cedar Rapids, Art Center, March 1977

  • Exhibitor, Ward Nasse Gallery, N.Y.C., 1977-79

  • One Person Shows, Cornell College, ’79, ’76, ’73, ’71. ’69. ’68, ’67, ’66 ’65, ’64, ’63

  • Exhibitor, The Cothran Gallery, Cedar Rapids, 1976

  • Exhibitor, The Corner Gallery, Cedar Rapids, 1976

  • Dubuque Art Association, 1975

  • Exhibitor, The American Gothic Galleries, Cedar Rapids, 1975

  • Exhibitor, Billy Son Gallery, Coralville, Iowa, 1973-74

  • Clay and Paper Show, Ames, 1973

  • One Person Show, Clinton Art Assn., 1973

  • Exhibitor, Merton Boyd Gallery, Columbus, Ohio

  • One Person Show, Ohio State University, Summer 1972

  • December Group Show, Son Raed Gallery, N.Y.C., 1971

  • Exhibitor, Martin Gallery, Minneapolis, 1970-71

  • Anoka-Ramsey Junior College Invitational, 1971

  • Cedar Rapids Art Center, Commissioned Environment, 1969

  • One Person Show, De Mena Gallery, N.Y.C., December 1968 (see reviews in Arts and Art News)

  • Cornell Faculty, Davenport, Museum, 1968

  • Northern Illinois, Drawing, and Prints, annual, 1968

  • Iowa Collects, Davenport, Museum, 1967

  • One Person Show, Coe College, 1967, 1970, 1972

  • Cedar Rapids Art Center Sales, Gallery, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970-72

  • Skowhegan Alumni Invitational, N.Y.C., 1966

  • Morningside Invitational Inaugural, 196

  • Cedar Rapids, Art Festival, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1965

  • Iowa Artists, Cornell College, 1965

  • Iowa Artist Annual Des Moines, Iowa, 1965, 1979

  • One Person Show, East End Gallery, Provincetown, Mass., 1964

  • Waverly Gallery, N.Y.C., Group Show, 1962

  • Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, Columbus, Ohio, 1962

  • Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, 1963

  • Atlanta Art Association of Fine Arts, Atlanta, Georgia, 1963

  • City Art Museum of St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 1963

  • Isaac Delgado Museum of Art New Orleans, La, 1963

  • San Francisco Museum of Fine Arts, San Francisco, Cal,. 1963

  • Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1963

  • Museum of Modern Art, N. Y. C "Recent Painting, The Figure", 1962

  • East End Gallery, Provincetown, Mass., regular exhibitor, summers, 1960-61

  • One Person Show, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1961

  • Indiana University, Graduate Show, 1960

  • Delphi Art Festival, Delphi, Indiana, 1960

  • Provincetown, Art Association, 1960, 1957, 1954,

  • Tirza Karlis Gallery, Provincetown, Mass., Invitational Group Show, Summer, 1959

  • Connecticut Valley College Art Association, Springfield, Mass.,1959, 1958, 1957,

  • Evansville Art Assn., Evansville, Ind., 1959

  • Farbrook School, Invitational, Short Hills, N.J., 1958

  • University of Connecticut, 1958, 1959

  • Greenwood Gallery, Hartford, Conn., 1958-59

  • One Person Show, Whittingham Gallery, Boston, Mass., 1958

  • Whittingham Gallery, Provincetown, Mass., Summer 1958

  • One Person Show, Davison Art Center, Middletown, Conn., 1957, 1959

  • University of Wisconsin, Annual, 1956