Diane Mazur

Artist Statement

I am an American artist known for creating large, figurative, abstracted paintings and multi-media pieces. I am an Expressionist and am most influenced, art historically, by Cubism and Surrealism. I enjoy experimenting with Space, either exaggerating implied 3-D space on a 2-D picture plane, or creating ambiguous space, where the viewer's eye travels back in space before returning to the surface of the 2-D picture plane. I come from the figure, and I work through process.

Painting is like dreaming to me. It's a medium through which I can express deep emotions and thoughts that I can't express as well in other ways. I go through the ritual of stretching my canvas on the floor and looking at the stained shapes created. This calls for a response, and then one action calls for the next. A rhythm is created. I lose time. I feel color. I'm in the zone. I work through process. As the painting develops, I vacillate between this intuitive, automatic process, and a more analytical, formal method to solve the painting and make it work.

My work has always been a dialogue between figure, fantasy and abstraction. I strive for a tension between abstraction and recognizable subject matter, creating forms that are suggestive but not too literal. From painting around the canvas on the floor, I became obsessed with creating "4-Way Works" intended to be viewed from all four directions. The narrative quality of my early work evolved into a narrative/conceptual dialogue as I became more involved in seeing the works any of four ways, each view lending its own visual associative suggestions for personal interpretation by each spectator. I want the shapes to have the ability to transform from one viewpoint to another and I want the viewer to have fun experiencing this as a visual game or puzzle. This problem, and the criteria for my paintings that grew out of it, demanded that the images become more abstract. It also affected the composition of the painting and the transformation of positive and negative space as the viewer looks from different perspectives. They have certainly led to intriguing installation opportunities and collaborations with curators! I have presented them on the floor, the ceiling, with knobs that the spectator can turn. and some that automatically turn 90 degrees every 20 seconds. I always put hardware on the back that enables each piece to be hung from any direction.

Movement is also very important in my work and process, both physically and compositionally. Trained as a dancer, I work gesturally, moving around the canvas, throwing, splashing and staining the canvas with color. I begin by creating rhythms and harmonies with shapes and color. I like to let the paint do a lot on its own, and the viscosity of the paint is of upmost importance in determining how the paint will act and how the colors will mix. There is a distinct relationship to music in my work.

My paintings fit into what is described by cultural theorists, Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van der Akker, into the "Metamodernism Movement", or "what comes after the postmodernist era for the 2020's and beyond". In this international movement, artists continue exploring ideas from past art genres and explore and develop them to include issues that are relevant in contemporary culture.

I create works that have layers of meaning and which can be interpreted in many ways. Some prefer to interpret the work symbolically while others respond more to the movement and color and the work's relationship to music, gesture and dance. Still others relate to the metaphysical content of transformation and simultaneity. I strive to keep a rawness in my work, in opposition to the mass of slick digital works being produced today. The more that the spectator brings to or sees in my work, the more complete that work becomes. I wish for my art to visually tickle the spectator's imagination and tap a source of interpretation for many people in many fields of knowledge.

It would be fun to create topsy-turvy world where things could be seen from any direction. I love the process of collaborating with curators to incorporate their ideas on how to present these pieces to encourage viewers to look at art in a new way. And now, it is fun and helpful to consult Ai’s Gemini or Claude. I have also asked Claude to try to create "4-Way-works, and so far, he has not been able to produce original designs that work in this way.

Things are not always as they appear to be. What is reality? What is abstraction? Everything is actually dependent on our perception and our interpretation of the world around us. I wish for my art to visually attract interest and be an inspiration and an uplifting experience for many people in many fields of knowledge and experience.

Biography

Diane Mazur is a multi-disciplinary artist living and working in San Antonio, Texas. Primarily a painter working with water and oil based paints, she has worked with many different mediums throughout her long career, including painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, ceramic sculpture, wood constructions, and installation. Renowned as a colorist, her work is widely celebrated for its vibrant palette, physical energy, and interactive qualities.

Mazur earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing with a minor in Modern Dance from Southern Methodist University in 1974, where she studied under James Surls. Surls later included her paintings in a groundbreaking 1980s exhibition at the Lawndale Annex—the historic artist-run space in Houston—during the influential "Fresh Paint" movement. This key moment helped launch her career on to the national stage. She went on to earn her Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 1978. She later completed post-graduate studies in ceramics under Steve Reynolds from 2000 to 2002.

Rooted in a strong background in dance, figure drawing, and extreme physical movement, Mazur approaches canvas work through gesture and action painting, using intense exercise to enter a flow state in the studio. Throughout her career, she has taught Dance, Creative Movement, Mat Pilates, Senior Fitness, and Gyrotonic, as well as College Art: Life Drawing, Ceramic Sculpture, 2-D Design, Art Appreciation (classroom and online) and Pilates.

In 1978, Mazur began exploring human perception and visual psychology through her signature "4-Way Works." Painted on the floor, these non-directional compositions are designed to be viewed and rotated from any angle. The series extends Cubist notions of transformation, simultaneity, and the reconciliation of opposites, alongside Surrealist modes of subconscious visualization, encouraging viewers to uncover shifting forms from each perspective.

Over a career spanning more than 50 years, Mazur has maintained a rigorous studio practice alongside roles as a college art professor and instructor in movement disciplines including Pilates and Gyrotonic. She was in the first, revolutionary Blue Star Exhibit in San Antonio, Texas, in 1986 and helped develop the vibrant, local art scene that San Antonio now enjoys.

Her accolades include a STARTsoma Residency in San Francisco (2003), a Creative Capital Grant (2010), a Freehold Residency in Taos (2018), the Lone Star Featured Artist Award (2019), and multiple Individual Artist Grants. She has been included in many major exhibitions and has had three Solo Retrospective Exhibits to date. She has been awarded several Individual Artist’s Grants and has continued to run and maintain a working studio for over 45 years. Please see her resume for more details at https://dianemazur.com.

Mazur married photographer John Dyer in 1978, and they have two children and seven grandchildren. She now works full time producing and exhibiting her artwork, participating in residencies, and running her studio.

Resume

EDUCATION

2000-2002  Post Graduate Studies in Ceramics w/ Steve Reynolds, UTSA

1977-1979  University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, M.F.A. (Painting)

1973-1975  Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, B.F.A. (Painting, Drawing & Modern Dance)

1970-1972  University of Texas, Austin, Texas, B.S. (Art Education)

TEACHING

2004–2014  Adjunct Faculty: Ceramic Sculpture, Design, Online Art Appreciation, Pilates, Gyrotonic, Northwest Vista College, Northeast Lakeview College, Palo Alto College, SA Texas.

1984-1986  Faculty: Drawing, Painting, 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Art Appreciation, San Antonio Art Institute, S.A., Texas

1980-1984  Adjunct Faculty, Life-Drawing, Painting, 2-D Design, San Antonio College, SA Texas.

GRANTS

2020  Lone Star Arts District Featured Artist

2018  Freehold Residency Program, Taos, New Mexico

2010  Creative Capital Grant, City of San Antonio Arts & Cultural Affairs

1994  Individual Artist Grant, City of San Antonio Arts & Cultural Affairs @ S.A. Children's Museum

1991  Individual Artist Grant, City of San Antonio Arts & Cultural Affairs @ JumpStart Performance Center

1986  Individual Painting Fellowship for the Visual Arts, Arts Council of San Antonio, Texas

1984  Stieron Faculty Travel Grant, San Antonio Art Institute, San Antonio, Texas

1979  Drawing Fellowship, University of Texas @ San Antonio

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025  "Diane Mazur Through the Years", Curated by Lea Alonso Amar, Campus of the San Antonio Jewish Community, S.A., Texas.

2023  RETROSPECTIVES, Diane Mazur & Suzanne Paquette, Reno Art Gallery, Northeast
Lakeview College, Sad Antonio, Texas

2022  “All the World’s a Stage, Collages by Diane Mazur", Curated by Bill Fitzgibbons,
Dock Space Gallery, San Antonio, Texas.

2018  One Person Show, “New Paintings”, 107 Gallery, 107 Lone Star Blvd, S.A. Texas, curate by Bill Fitzgibbons

2015  One Person Show, Diane Mazur, Curated by Felipe Reyes, Anna Reyes Gallery, SA, Texas

2013  Curator, “Annual Women’s Exhibition, Cathy Cunningham-Little & Kathy Sosa”,
Palmetto Center for the Arts, Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, Texas

2012  Curator, “Annual Women’s Exhibition: Betsy Kopmar-video), Marian McNair-painting, Suzanne Paquett - Eart h Work, Lenise Perez-Miller-ceramic sculpture, D
Donna Simon-paintings”, Palmetto Center for the Arts,NW Vista College, Palmetto Center for the Artss, SA, Texas.

2010  "Diane Mazur - Fresh Paint 2010", Northeast Lakeview College Art Gallery, SA, Texas.

2008  "Diane Mazur", Cafe Paladar Gallery, a collaboration of Seeing Art San Antonio, The New World Food & Wine Festival, and Diane Mazur
Open Studio Tour, "Seeing Art San Antonio", Open Studio Show, Contemporary Art Month, San Antonio, Texas

2004  "Diane Mazur: PAINT 1978-2004", Curated by James Miller, South Texas College Art Gallery, McAllen, Texas

2002  "A Day on the Farm", ceramic works by Diane Mazur, Joan Grona Gallery, San Antonio, Texas.

2000  "Diane Mazur - New Paintings", 107 Blue Star Space, San Antonio, Texas

1997  "Diane Mazur- New Work", 107 Blue Star, San Antonio, Texas

1995  "Diane Mazur - An Installation", San Antonio Children's Museum, funded by the City of San Cultural Affairs & the San Antonio Children's Museum, SA, Texas.

1993  "Diane Mazur- New Work", 107 Blue Star, San Antonio, Texas

1991  "Diane Mazur - "All the World's a Stage, an INSTALLATION, Jump Start Performance Center, funded by the City of San Antonio Arts & Culture and Jump Start.
"Diane Mazur- New Work", 107 Blue Star, San Antonio, Texas
CURATOR, " The Blue Star Loft Project", Blue Star Arts Complex, San Antonio, Texas

1989  "Renderings", Arte Moderna Gallery, San Antonio, Texas

1987  "Diane Mazur - New Paintings", Locus Gallery, San Antonio, Texas

1981  "Diane Mazur-Paintings” Eastfield College, Dallas, Texas

1978  “MFA Exhibit (one-person show), University of San Antonio Gallery Foyer, SA Texas.

TWO & THREE PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2026  "Diane Mazur - Vortex Series", Rosemary's Las Meninas Gallery, Blue Star Arts Complex, San Antonio, Texas

2017  Modern Perspectives, Diane Mazur, Felipe Reyes, Andy Villareal”, Anna Reyes Gallery, San Antonio, Texas

2012  John Dyer, Diane Mazur, & Lionel Sosa, Bismarck Gallery, San Antonio, Texas

2006  "SPILL!", a video collaboration of Dance, Music and Art, (Jayne King, Diane Mazur, Michael Brewer), premier at "Merging Modes", Radius Space, San Antonio, Texas

2003  Artist in Residence, STARTsoma Gallery, San Francisco, California
"ART SHOW" (Really good art By Really Good Artists)", STARTsoma Gallery, San Francisco, California

2002  "Heaven and Hell", a collaboration installation - Steve Reynolds and Diane Mazur, 107 Blue Star Space, San Antonio, Texas

1994  "Diane Mazur, Alfredo Bustinza, & Enrique Zavala", Visual Arts Annex,
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, San Antonio, Texas

1992  New Gallery Artists, Copeland/Rutherford Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

1983  "Three San Antonio Artists", curated by James Surls, Lawndale Annex, Houston, Texas

1982  “Diane Mazur & Gordon McVay", Bank of San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas

SMALL GROUB EXHIBITIONS

2026  Valentines Couples Exhibit, Dock Space (now Lone Star) Gallery, San Antonio, Texas

2025  Art Through the Eyes of 4 Jewish Americans to Celebrate Jewish Heritage Month 2025: Artists Jayne Beyman, D'vir Bar-Gal, Diane Mazur & Barry Spigel, Barshop Jewish Community Center, San Antonio, Texas

2013  “Women In Art, Northeast Lakeview College, NLC Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
(JoLea Arcidiacono, Jessica Battes, Catherine Lee, Diane Mazur, Lenise Perez-Miller, Jamie Lea Wade)

2012  Woman’s History Month Show, Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, Texas

2011  Northwest Vista Art Faculty Exhibit, Palmetto Center for the Arts., Norwest Vista College, San Antonio, Texas

2006  Leander Avenue Art and Wine Festival, curated by Christian Frock - Catharine Clark Gallery – San Francisco, California.

2004  Group Show Gallery Artists, STARTsoma Gallery, San Francisco, California,

1997  "UTSA Women's Alumni Invitational, UTSA Satellite Space, Blue Star Arts Complex, SA, Tx.

1996  “6 Contemporary Painters Inspired by the COBRA Group”, Silkeborg Kunstmuseum, Silkeborg, Denmark

1991  "Gallery Artists", Copeland / Rutherford Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

1988  "New Directions", University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas

1987  "Five San Antonio Painters", Artists Alliance Gallery, San Antonio, Texas

1986  "New Gallery Artists", Judy Youen's Gallery, Houston Texas

1983  Faculty Exhibit, San Antonio Art Institute, San Antonio, Texas

1982  "Twelve San Antonio Artists of the Southwest", Women's Interart de St. Amand Gallery, New York, N.Y.

LARGER GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026  The Red Dot Exhibit, Contemporary at Blue Star San Antonio, S.A., Texas.

2025  The Red Dot Exhibit, Contemporary at Blue Star San Antonio, S.A., Texas.

2024  Speak Easy Pop Exhibition, Curated by Rachael Duke, San Antonio, Texas Women's United Art Movement long list

2012  START Center for Cancer Care Opening, START Medical Building, San Antonio, Texas

2008  Group Show, San Francisco Art Exchange, 100 Geary Bldg., San Francisco, California
Gallery Artists Group Show, Loft Gallery, The (ArtWalk Venue), McAllen, Texas

2005  Blue Star 20, Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, San Antonio, Texas
Arts and Eats, Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, San Antonio Texas
ArtPace - Chalk It Up, (Best Arts and Culture Project, 2004), San Antonio, Texas
Fall Into Art - Northwest Vista College – curated by The Department of Art, SA Texas.

2003  Blue Star 17- Between Past & Future", Blue Star Art Space, San Antonio, Texas

1998  “Working in the Time Space Millenium”, Art Gallery of Ontario, Musee des Beaux-Arts de Ontario, Toronto, Canada

1993  "Texas Biennial Exhibition", DARE (Dallas Artists Research & Exhibition), Dallas, Texas

1988  "Gallery Artists", Judy Youen's Gallery, Houston, Texas

1987  ‘Gallery Artists”, Judy Youen's Gallery, Houston, Texas

1986  "The Blue Star 1 Exhibit", Blue Star Art Space, San Antonio, Texas
"Art Is Not A Thing", Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Austin, Texas

1985  "Previews", Caroline Lee Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
“Texas Visions”, Art League of Houston, Transo Energy & Museum of Art of the American
West, Houston, Texas.

1982  "Expo de San Antonio", Mexican Cultural Center, Mexico City, Mexico
"Art Museum of South Texas Annual", Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas

1980  "All Media Art Show '80", Two Houston Center, Houston, Texas

1975  "Tarrant County Annual", Fort Worth Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas
"Temple Emmanuel Juried Show" (Purchase Prize), Dallas, Texas.
"B.F.A. Show", Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.

FEATURED ARTICLES

2025  Art Week, "Step Into the Radiant World of Spectrum 2025 by Gallerium Art", December
Featured Artist, Abstractum 2025 virtual Exhibition and Publication, Gallerium, Biafarin
Online Exhibition, Artsy
Featured Artist, Spectrum 2025 virtual Exhibition and Publication, Gallerium, Biafarin
Online Exhibition, Artsy

2024  Artist Closeup Magazine, May 2024 Issue, p. 53

2017  Tami Kegley, “Contemporary Art Month: 30 Years Later”, Rivard Report, San Antonio, Texas

2013  Diana Roberts, “Women in Art at Northeast Lakeview College Gallery”, ART Magazine, April 17, 2013

2010  FRESH PAINT 2010, Exhibition of paintings by Diane Mazur, San Antonio Current, July, 2010
CATALOGUE, FRESH PAINT BY DIANE MAZUR

2008  Ron Smith, “Works by Diane Mazur at Café Paladar”, San Antonio Express News.
Barbara Rosenberg, “Diane Mazur’s Paintings Are on Display", Jewish Journal, Arts &
Entertainment, October

2006  Jennifer Roolf Lastert, "Performance, Visual Art Merge," Express News, July 20, 2006
Diana Roberts, "Merging modes: ModaCoLab at Radius," San Antonio Current, July 19, 2006
Martin Ricard, “New look at art helps out old nonprofit” The Daily Review, San Leandro, California, 10/09/06

2003  Eakins, Chris, “Artists in Residence Exhibit Work at STARTsoma Gallery”,
San Francisco Chronicle 07/03

2001  Goddard, Dan, "Heaven & Hell, A Collaboration", Steve Reynolds & Diane Mazur

1995  Goddard, Dan, "Blue Star Celebrating 10 Years of Putting Art on the Edge", S.A. Express. 11/12/95
1995  Goddard, Dan, "10 Years After, Blue Star Celebrates a Decade of showing
Contemporary Art", The San Antonio Express, Dec. 10, 1995

1994  Freeman, John "New Players Star at Guadalupe", Voices of Art, Vol 2, No. 9,
November,1994.

1993  Kutner, Janet, "80 Artists Who Aren't Allowed to Play It Safe", The Dallas Morning News, Nov. 19, 1993.
Tyson, Janet, "Texas Biennial", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 23, 1993
Kutner, Janet, “Daringly Different Show", The Dallas Morning News, 11.26/93. Catalogue for "The Texas Biennial Exhibition"`

1991  Weser, Marcia Goren, "Wet Paint", San Antonio Light, June 30, 1991
Goddard, Dan, "S.A.'s Best to Shine at Blue Star Event", San Antonio Express & News, July 7, 1991
Weser, Marcia Goren, "Blue Star VI Exhibit is Polished and Profound", San Antonio Light,

1989  Fenwick, Ellen, "New Works by Diane Mazur to Show at Arte Moderno Gallery, San Antonio Magazine, January, 1989

1988  Bennett, Steve, " New Directions in UTSA Alumni Show”, ` San Antonio Light, February 28, 1988
Goddard, Dan, "UTSA Exhibit Honors 25 Alumni", San Antonio Express News, March 6, 1988.
Weser, Marcia Goren, "UTSA Graduates Showing Artistic Growth", San Antonio Light, March 6, 1988.

1987  Goddard, Dan. "Abstract Artists' Creations Take a Look at The Bright Side." San Antonio Express, January 29, 1987.

1986  Goddard, Dan R. "Mazur, Hypnotic Dancing Around Canvas." San Antonio Express News, January 19, 1986.
Goddard, Dan R. "Artists vs. Museums.", San Antonio Express News, July 22, 1986.
Meredith, Sally Boothe. "Heads Up, It's the World Series of Art." Current, June 26, 1986
Bradley, Steve, "Contemporary Art for San Antonio- The Blue Star Exhibit." (Catalogue), Summer, 1986.
Goddard, Dan. "Chilling Images Fill Dead Days.", San Antonio Express News, February 2, 1986.

1985  Solon, Marcia Goren. "Caroline Lee Gallery Showcases Work of 12 Young Texas Artists.", San Antonio Light, 07/14/85

1983  King, Ben. "Looking at Art from All Sides Now, "San Antonio Express News, October 30, 1983
Five San Antonio Painters." Artist's Alliance Review, June 1983.
Shown, John. "This Bank Has Eye for Art", San Antonio Express News, November 7,1983

1982  Odom, Marianne. "Mixing Mothering and Career", San Antonio Express News, 6/27,1982
“The Paintings of Diane Mazur.”, San Antonio Monthly, October 1982

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