Harry Glassgold

Harry Glassgold (1900-1983) was an American artist celebrated for his mastery in watercolor. He studied at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League from 1930 to 1932, training under renowned painter Raphael Soyer. Glassgold gained early recognition during the Great Depression through outdoor exhibitions in Washington Square, New York. He became affiliated with the Midtown Gallery at its inception, regularly participating in its group shows. His work also appeared in exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the ACA and AAA Galleries, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Corcoran Gallery, the Brooklyn Museum, the Chicago International, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. In 1938, following a successful solo show at the Hudson D. Walker Gallery, Glassgold was invited to exhibit at the Young Artist's Market in Detroit. Between 1938 and 1950, he had twelve solo exhibitions there. His exceptional skill in watercolor earned him numerous accolades, including the Albert Kahn Prize for Best of Show (1942), the John S. Newberry Purchase Prize (1943), and the Flint Institute of Art award for Best Watercolor (1947). Glassgold's works are housed in notable public collections such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Flint Institute of Arts. Additionally, his art is part of private collections, including those of R.H. Tannahill, founder of the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Ford family.