David Lax paintings and drawings

Collection

Identifier: RITArt-0040

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

David Lax paintings and drawings consists of 107 pieces. 83 are paintings, mainly oil, and 24 are ink or pastel drawings. Several of his works can be seen in the Davis Room in the Student Alumni Union on the RIT campus.

Dates

Creation: circa 1950-1970

Creator

Lax, David (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

David Lax (1910-1990) donated 107 of his paintings and drawings to RIT’s collection in 1983. Lax, a native of New York’s Hudson Valley, established and served as the chair of the art department at Dutchess Community College. During World War II, he worked for the U.S. Army as an illustrator. His vibrant paintings reflect his philosophical preoccupation with the human condition.His collection of paintings and drawings is said to represent the most distinguished examples of humanistic art in America at the time.Lax's work has been exhibited in the corocoran Museum, Carnegie Institute, Crocker Museum of Art, The Houston Museum, and the Minnesota Museum of Art, as well as at the IBM and Kresge Collections. Renowned artist Alexander Archipenko has called Lax "a master of the shadows." Lax died in 1990.