Diane Mazur

Artist Statement

I am an American artist known for creating large, figurative, abstracted paintings and multi-media pieces. I make abstract pieces that are influenced by the figure and nature.

I am an Expressionist and am most influenced, art historically, by Surrealism and Cubism. I enjoy experimenting with Space, either exaggerating the implied 3-D space on a 2-D picture plane, or by creating ambiguous space, where the viewer's eye travels back in space before returning to the surface of the 2-D picture plane.

Coming from Dance in my early life, the Figure, especially Gesture, usually informs my work. Jackson Pollock's automatic Action Paintings had a big influence on me. The process of painting around the canvas on the floor enables me to go into that automatic zone, which gives me access to subconscious ideas that I cannot access logically. Painting to me is the fusion of physicality and the subconscious spirit.

From painting around the canvas on the floor, I became interested in creating "4-Way Works" and have gone back to this theme again and again in my long career. Whereas the figure brings me back to reality and our human psychology, the "4-Way works" approach Metaphysical content, such as transformation, reconciliation of opposites and simultaneity.

My goals are to stimulate the viewers imagination and to help the viewer to find personal meaning in the art I make. I want to encourage the viewer to visually "play" with my pieces. On the "4-Way Works", I want to enable them to look at the pieces as they would look at a Rorschach Test, seeing different shapes transform from one viewpoint to another and encourage them to actually turn the smaller pieces or hang the larger pieces from different directions.

In my latest series of Vortex Works, I have gone back to spatially exaggerating the illusion of 3-D space on a mostly 2-D plane. These pieces can also be viewed from any direction, and I put hardware on the back to enable the pieces to be hung from any direction. The vortex is an archetype that became meaningful to me graphically when I could only resolve the composition of a collage with a spiral composition. I recognized the spiral and the vortex as an archetype that I wanted to explore further. All of the pieces in my Vortex Series have been done in 2024. More examples of my work can be seen on my website at https://www.dianemazur.com. I hope you enjoy!

Biography

Diane Mazur is an artist specializing in Paintings, Drawings, Collage & Mixed-Media, Ceramic Sculpture, Wood Constructions & Installations. A colorist, she has worked with many mediums over a long career. Her work is appreciated for its vibrant color, energy & interactive qualities.

Diane’s strong early background in dance & figure drawing influenced her work as she embraced Gesture Drawing & Action Painting. Since 1978, Mazur has been exploring questions about human perception & psychology in paintings that she designs to be viewed from any direction, each direction suggesting imagery to the viewer, the “4-Way Works”. Through the process of painting on the floor, she “hypnotically dances around the pieces”, impregnating them with suggestive associations from each perspective. She throws, pours & squirts her paints, working with different viscosities of oil & water-based paints to get the affects she wants. Some pieces are interactive and kinetic. She says, "Whereas the figure brings me back to our human psychology, the 4-Way-Works approach the Metaphysical content of transformation, simultaneity & reconciliation of opposites.

Mazur earned her BFA in Painting (SMU-1974), her MFA in Painting (UTSA-1978), and did post graduate work in Ceramics. (UTSA-2000-2002). Mazur has done several residencies, received numerous Individual Artist Grants, has exhibited extensively internationally & has run a working studio for over 45 years. She has been collected in many private & public collections.

Mazur married photographer John Dyer in 1978, and they have two children and seven grandchildren. She began teaching college art in the 80’s, and when the kids left home, she returned to teaching(2004-2017). 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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