The Amazing Art of Mildred Kouzel

Last week, I visited the studio of local artist Mildred Kouzel, who will be exhibiting her work at Hibbleton Gallery in January for the Downtown Fullerton Art Walk in a show entitled "Never Too Late: A Mildred Kouzel Retrospective."  Mildred (aka Milly) is 91 years old and has been a prolific, working artist for the past 50 years.  Her house/studio is amazing...

After a career as a nurse, Kouzel began taking art classes in the early 1960s, and discovered a passion for art that has never left her. She was an army nurse during World War II. She lived in New York of the 1940s and 1950s, where she would see jazz artists like Dizzy Gillespie perform in the heyday of bebop.  

Her life experiences can be seen in her art. She is inspired by jazz, feminism, dance, acrobats, the environment, and modern society. Her work is a fascinating combination of autobiography and social commentary. Kouzel is a part of the groundbreaking, Fullerton-based female artist crew known as "The Bloody Marys," who have previously exhibited at Hibbleton Gallery.

For this retrospective exhibit, Kouzel will be showing works in a wide variety of media: painting, bronze sculpture, drawing, wood work, mixed media, and other styles.

Kouzel has shown her work at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, the CSUF Grand Central Art Center, the Chapman University, the Lankershim Arts Center, the Downey Museum, the Palos Verdes Art Center, the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, the Anaheim Central Gallery, and many many other places.

Mildred also created many of the art pieces that decorate the sanctuary of Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton, her place of worship.  She created this massive bronze piece representing the Torah and the twelve tribes of Isarel.

She also designed these lovely stained glass windows...

In the library of Temple Beth Tikvah is a bronze sculpture Milded made, which is a Holocaust memorial, of three women stripped naked in a concentration camp.

Don't miss this chance to see the work and meet the iconic and prolific local artist, Mildred Kouzel.

The opening reception is Friday, January 3 from 6-10pm during the Downtown Fullerton Art Walk.

Hibbleton Gallery is located inside The Magoski Arts Colony.

Love,

Hibbleton Gallery
The Magoski Arts Colony
The Downtown Fullerton Art Walk