Harriet Lustig
Wife • Mother • Artist • Instructor • Snowbird!
Sculptor Harriet Lustig was a snowbird. She and her husband, Laurence, had a home in Irvington, New York, as well as Winter Park. Born in 1920, she was educated at Marymount College (Tarrytown, NY) and at the Museum of Modern Art (Manhattan).
She was widely known for her representations of birds and other animals. In fact, she frequently traveled in order to study and photograph her subjects in their natural habitats. She worked in clay, plaster, and wire, many times leaving the medium in its natural state. The pieces varied in size from 12 inches to 4 feet in length. Her work has been described as “whimsical” and “tender.”
Lustig exhibited her art regularly, both in 1-person shows and in group exhibits. Generally, these exhibits were in the New York area: the Museum of Natural History (Manhattan), the Hudson River Museum (Yonkers), Briarcliff Manor, Hartsdale, Easthampton, and Westchester County. In Florida, she had exhibits in Winter Park (at the Winter Park Public Library, the Linda Rhodes Gallery, and at the Crealde′ School of Art) and in Melbourne.
Lustig was also represented in many galleries and private collections around the country. She was considered a talented and successful artist.
She was married to husband Laurence for 69 years. Laurence himself was a well known graphic artist and watercolorist. Their son, Jonathon, resides in Connecticut.
Besides her art, she enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, and her many friends.
Harriet Lustig died on June 9th, 2008 at 88 years of age. After her death, her son, Jonathon donated 25 pieces of his mother’s artwork to the Winter Park Public Library.
This article was written by former archivist, Barbara White, MLIS.
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