John Urbain

American (1920-2009)

Born in Belgium in 1920, Urbain came with his family to the United States in 1922, and settled in Detroit. Urbain’s artistic talents were recognized early, and he took drawing classes at a local art school, as well as attending Cass Technical School in Detroit, Michigan where he continued his focus on art. When he served in the Army from 1941 to 1945, and was assigned to the Army Illustrators. After the war, Urbain attended Black Mountain College, Asheville, NC, where he met and studied under Joseph Albers, who would prove to be a major influence on the artist. His exploration of line, space, color, materials and surfaces and the manner in which each affects the other became the dominant perspective from which Urbain would approach the making of art throughout his life.

In 1950, Urbain and his wife moved to Paris where he continued his studies at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere and the Academie Julien. Upon their return to the United States in 1953, Urbain became Art Director for Philip Morris Company and helped them to acquire an outstanding and diverse art collection. Urbain continued his work with Philip Morris until his retirement.

Urbain’s works are in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Detroit Museum of Art, the Houston Art Museum and many others.