Vilem Kriz

American, (1921–1994)
Vilem Kriz was one of many European artists who immigrated to the United States during the Second World War bringing with him the lessons learned from his great teachers, Jaromir Funke Josef Ehm and Frantisek Drtikol at the State Graphic School in Prague. Kriz taught photography and Surrealism at the California College of Art and Crafts in Oakland, where he produced much of his later work. His prints are individually toned with chemical solutions of his own design and printed on 11 x 14 inch paper, rendering as Thomas Albright noted, "the grand-style of the Surrealist sprit." His photographs are highly recognized and are among many collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.