Early Life, Training and Education
Don Kunz was born in 1932 in Portland, Oregon. His early years in the Pacific Northwest provided the foundation for a life spent working with color and form. He began his formal training at Portland's Museum Art School, where he first learned to handle the tools of a painter. This period of study allowed him to develop the technical discipline that would later define his approach to the canvas.
His education continued as he moved toward more specialized studies. He traveled to the Art Institute of Chicago to further his training, expanding his understanding of composition and medium. During this time, Don Kunz also sought out the specific, disciplined language of calligraphy. He studied this practice at Reed College under the guidance of Lloyd Reynolds, a connection that would eventually lead him to bridge the gap between the fluid gestures of writing and the structured world of painting.
Artistic Technique and Style
His canvases are built through layers of color and heavy texture. He worked across various scales, moving from small studies on paper to large-scale compositions on canvas. The surfaces often feel thick, holding the physical traces of the application. These works frequently integrate calligraphic letterforms alongside enigmatic symbols, creating a visual language that sits between writing and painting.
The application of paint often resembles a series of gestures. There is a sense of movement in the way the pigment is laid down, as if the marks are caught in a state of flux. He used the precision of calligraphy to interact with the more fluid, expressive qualities of painting. This approach results in a tension between controlled strokes and spontaneous, sweeping motions.
- Untitled Abstraction (about 1968)
Teaching Career and Professional Life
Kunz’s life was deeply tied to the classroom. He began his teaching career in Portland, working as an art teacher at Grant High School. This early period of instruction preceded his move into higher education, where his focus shifted toward the specific mechanics of calligraphy and painting. He eventually brought these disciplines to Queens College in New York, where he taught calligraphy.
His most enduring professional chapter took place at The Cooper Union. He joined the faculty there in 1966 and remained a presence in the institution for thirty-three years. During his time at the school, he worked to bridge the gap between the fluid gestures of calligraphy and the structured application of painting. In 1993, he was granted tenure at the institution. His influence extended to students pursuing graphic design, as he supported their efforts through his specialized approach to letterforms and symbols.
Exhibitions and Later Years
During the 1950s, his paintings found their way into the Portland and Seattle Art Museums. In 1957, he was part of a three-person show held at the Friendship House. These early exhibitions helped establish his presence within the regional art scene during a formative period of his career.
His presence in the art community continued long after his early shows. In 2008, the Wilmer Jennings Gallery in New York City organized an exhibition titled Inspired by Actual Events, which served as a tribute to his life and work. This exhibition included contributions from several artists, including Marina Gutierrez, Lisa Hamilton, Glenis Holder, Ryan Oakes, Trevor Oakes, and Jasmin Ortiz.
Don Kunz died on August 24, 2001, in New York, New York. He left behind a body of work that spanned medium and large scale canvases as well as smaller pieces on paper.
