Misha Frid (born November 22, 1938) is a Russian-born American sculptor, artist, graphic designer, and filmmaker who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Frid immigrated to the US in 1972 with his wife, Galina, and their two sons. His works are housed in private and corporate collections and galleries and museums around the world.San Francisco Decorator Showcase, Magazine, p.88, 2011 Article invited art lovers to see one man show of Misha Frid in 1000 Van Ness Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
Early life and education
Frid was born in 1938 to a Jewish family in Moscow. His father was from Lithuania, and his mother was from Belarus. When he was five, his father took him to a music school to study the violin; his father dreamed of seeing him become a concert violinist, but Misha's dream was to become a sculptor."Together"("Вместе"), Russian Magazine, p. 12, Jan., 2014 Five years later, he switched from his music school to art school to study graphic arts and sculpture; however, music has remained an important part of his life. Frid graduated from high school in 1955 with honors. He also graduated with honors from Moscow State Art College in 1967 and the University of Fine Arts in the city, and studied film directing at the Russian State University of Cinematography in Moscow in 1972. In 1964, he had an exhibition at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow with other young artists. Russian culture and literature influence Frid's artistry. A love for Russian composers and Russian ballet inspired him, and he sees ballet as sculpture in motion.
A hot summer in 1972 resulted in crop failure and famine, and led to an appeal from Russia for help from the UN; however, the Iron Curtain prevented wheat imports from the US. The US agreed to help the USSR in exchange for 150 refuseniks to be allowed out of the Soviet Union, and Leonid Brezhnev agreed. At the time Frid was a member of the Sculptor Society of Russia, and his work was on exhibit in museums. The "Jackson Amendment" (as it was called in Russia) benefited Frid's family, and he received a letter permitting him to leave Russia within 14 days with $80 per person. Frid, his wife and two sons (11 months and five years) emigrated to the United States.Article about beauty and music. Frid’s Elegant touch, The Canadian Jewish News, p.24T, Apr. 20, 1995
Career
In 1978, Frid became a US citizen. He developed a working relationship with the artist and designer Erté, who was 80 years old: "I felt like a young writer, having the incredible fortune to know Shakespeare".Article "Soviet artist finds freedom in Thornhill" by Nancy Pack, Community Newspaper, p. C-1, Jul., 30. 1986 Wentworth Publishing Corporation represented Frid from 1990 to 2011, selling over 5,000 of his sculptures.Bronze sculpture "Cello player", Wentworth Publishing, Art Business News Magazine, p. 46, Aug., 1991Article about Misha Frid. Photo "The Harp Player", Wentworth Publishing, Magazine Art Business News, p. 84, Sep., 1991 New musical collectionFull page about Misha Frid. Article "One of the most prominent sculptors in the world", photo "The Violin Player", Wentworth Publishing, Magazine Art Business News, p. 55, May, 1992Sunstorm Magazine, Summer, 1993, p.41 Article "Searching the World to bring you fine art". In 1984, he and his family moved to Toronto. Frid has exhibited his art at New York's International ArtExpo.Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "Woman in the shell", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 312, Apr., 3-7, 1986One man show Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "Sunshine", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 516, Apr., 2-6, 1987One man show Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "Bubbles", 10th Annual International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 167, Mar., 17-21, 1988Misha Frid Russian sculptor of dreams, bronze sculpture "Flower", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 189, Apr., 13-17, 1989Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "The magic flute", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 408, Mar., 5-9, 1992Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "Lady of the Lily", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 572, Mar., 9-13, 1995Misha Frid, crystal sculpture "Adam and Eve", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 263, Mar., 7-11, 1996Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "Muze", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 223, Feb., 6-10, 1997Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "Jazz", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 386, Mar., 4-8, 1999ArtExpo New York 2000, ArtExpo Preview Magazine, p. 31, Feb., 2000 Presentation of Misha Frid’s graphics.Misha Frid, sculptures "Wedding Art" collection, International ArtExpo New York Magazine, Feb., 2001Misha Frid, cast relief "Romeo and Juliet", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 407, Mar., 8-12, 2001Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "Sheer Delight", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 289, Feb.28-Mar.4, 2002Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "Jazz", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 341, Feb.27-Mar.3, 2003Misha Frid, bronze sculpture "Enliven", International ArtExpo New York Magazine, p. 243, Feb.26-Mar.1, 2004 He exhibited his art at the International ArtExpo in Los Angeles in 1989 and 1990, and at the Tokyo International Art Show in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994.Misha Frid on Tokyo Art Expo, Art Magazine International, Tokyo Art Expo Special Issue, p. 102, Apr., 4, 1990Book about Tokyo International Art Show, Ars Nova, TIAS, p. 31, Feb., 1991 Article about Misha Frid’s Art collectionTokyo International Art Show, Magazine, TIAS’1991, p.142Tokyo International Art Show, Magazine, TIAS’1993, Jan., 22-25, p.91Misha Frid, Crystal sculpture, Tokyo International Art Show, TIAS’1994, ArtFocus Magazine, Fall, 1994 Frid won a 1991 Toronto public-art competition with The Lady of the Lily, a 10-foot bronze sculpture. As part of SIART’93, a 1993 cultural-exchange program, he exhibited his art in Seoul.Letter of appreciation to Misha Frid for the purpose of a Cultural Exchange Program, Seoul, South Korea, SIART’93 Frid was chosen as a sculptor by the United States Olympic Committee, and created Equestrian, Gymnast and Stadium Jumper for the centennial 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.Article "Sculptor unveils artwork commissioned for Olympics" by Miriam Chinsky, Toronto, Canada, The Canadian Jewish News, p. 36, Apr., 18, 1996Sculpture "Equestrian" by Misha Frid. Equine Images Magazine, The national magazine of equine art, Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Olympic Games in Atlanta, US, June/July, 1996Article "1996 Centennial Olympic Games collection made by Misha Frid" Art Business News Magazine, p. 41, Jul., 1996 He presented his sculpture for the first time in a collection of drawings at the 2000 International ArtExpo in New York.ArtExpo New York 2000, ArtExpo Preview Magazine, p. 31, Feb., 2000 Presentation of Misha Frid’s graphicsGraphics of Misha Frid, The Bevelled Edge, Magazine of Fine Art & Framing, p.20, bevellededge.com, 2002 Frid exhibited his work at the 2003 and 2004 Toronto ArtExpos.Journal Toronto InsideArt Expo 2003, Mar., 13-16, 2003 Art exhibit of Misha FridJournal Toronto Art Expo 2004, Mar., 18-21, 2004 Art exhibit of Misha Frid
In 2006, he and his family returned to the US. Two years later, the American Sport Art Museum and Archives in Alabama added Equestrian, Gymnast and Stadium Jumper to its permanent collection.American Sport Art Museum and Archives in Alabama, US, The permanent exhibition of Misha Frid’s sculptures: "Equestrian", "Gymnast", "Stadium Jumper" created for the 100th anniversary of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Games, Apr., 07, 2008 Frid also contributed ikebana to the Exquisite Harmony East West exhibition, which featured Western sculpture and traditional Japanese ikebana flower arrangements uniting Eastern and Western culture, at the Art People Gallery in San Francisco that year. He received a certificate of recognition from Japanese consul general Yasumasa Nagamine and a commendation from California Assemblyman Mark Leno.Article in newspaper about grand opening of art show "East and West" in San Francisco, Nichibei Times Newspaper, May 6, 2008Award to Misha Frid from Yasumasa Nagamine Consul General of Japan, "Harmonious blend of East and West", North America’s Japanese Newsource, Hokubei.com, May 8, 2008Magazine "Japanese American News", p. 12, May 15, 2008 Article about exhibition "Exquisite Harmony East West" in Art People Gallery in San Francisco, CA In 2008, Frid's The Centaur was found among thousands of stolen bicycles and quantities of marijuana and cocaine.
Frid created the Freedom of Expression Award for the best director at the Jewish Film Festival in San Francisco, symbolizing "the never extinguished flame of Jewish daring and creativity, from 2008 to 2012."San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Magazine, p. 7, Jul. 24 – Aug. 11, 2008, sfjff.orgSan Francisco Jewish Film Festival Magazine, Jul. 23 – Aug. 10, 2009, sfjff.org30th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Magazine, Jul. 24 – Aug. 9, 2010, sfjff.orgSan Francisco Jewish Film Festival Magazine, p. 8, Jul. 19 – Aug. 06, 2012, sfjff.org Among the directors to receive the bronze award was 95-year-old Kirk Douglas, before the screening of Spartacus in 2011.San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Magazine, p. 8, Jul. 21 – Aug. 08, 2011, sfjff.org Frid donated his Swan Lake to the Saint Petersburg Conservatory for its 150th anniversary.Music in Bronze, "Together"("Вместе"), Russian Magazine, p. 12, Jan., 2014 He and Wayne Schotten produced the 2013 documentary film, Swan Lake in Bronze,Oshman Family Jewish Community Center Journal, Arts & Dialogues 2013-2014, Article about documentary film "Swan Lake in Bronze" by Misha Frid and Wayne A. Schotten which received the Best Cinematography for Documentary award at the 2014 Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles. Frid created two bronze sculptures for the 20th anniversary of the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation in Moscow in 2014.Gratitude to Misha Frid, who did 2 awards in bronze, for celebration of 20th anniversary of Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation, 2014 The following year, Spivakov awarded Frid's Mercy to actor Yevgeny Mironov.
Philanthropy Frid has donated his sculptures and drawings to Okizu, the San Francisco Symphony, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, and the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation.
Gallery
References
Sources Misha Frid, "6th Exhibition of Young Moscow Artists", Moscow, USSR (Russia), p. 64, 1961 Catalog "Exhibition of Moscow Region Artists", USSR (Russia), p. 26, 1961 Photos of Misha Frid's art, USSR Journal Soviet Woman ("Советская Женщина") No.6, p. 2, 1963 Article "Steps to the World of Art" ("Ступеньки в Мир искусства"), USSR (Russian) Newspaper Evening Moscow ("Вечерняя Москва"), p. 2, Apr., 12, 1966 Two full pages "Mein Kindergarten" about Misha Frid's art, German Magazine Freie Welt, p. 36, Dec., 01, 1966 Full page about Misha Frid, Polish Magazine Kraj Rad, p. 29, Dec., 04, 1966 Article about a group of artists in newspaper "Russian Jews speak freely at Westside Center" by Betty Nutkiewicz, The JCA News, Jewish Centers Association of Los Angeles, p. 13, Winter, 1975 Article about Misha Frid's collection, "The passion reined", SunStorm Arts Magazine, p. 4, Apr., 1987 Article "Exhibition "ArtExpo-87" by Lana Mack, Russian Newspaper Novoye Russkoye Slovo, 1987 The Toronto Star Newspaper, p. G3, Nov., 19, 1988, article about Misha Frid "Emigre artist says the future lies in the past" by Christopher Hume. The Canadian Jewish News, p. 52, Sep., 13, 1990 Article "Soviet sculptor Misha Frid pursues artistic dreams" by Frances Kraft Full page about Misha Frid. Article "One of the most prominent sculptors in the world", photo "The Violin Player", Wentworth Publishing, Magazine Art Business News, p. 55, May, 1992 Full page "Misha Frid sculptor of dream", Russian Newspaper Vestnik ("Вестник"), Canada, p. 10, Jun., 25,1992