I offer to you a pastel drawing by Ted Egri (American, 1913-2010)  Drawing on paper.   Sight: 15.5 inches H x 11 inches W.  Depicts Portrait of a Patrocino Barela the famous wood sculptor holding a carving tool. Framed under glass in 1/4 inch Wide blonde wood molding. 1.75 inches Deep.  Outer dimensions of frame: 22 inches H x 17.5 inches W.  Signed lower right: Egri.

Ted Egri (1913–2010) was a prolific American modernist artist and educator best known for his dynamic sculptures and his influential role in the Taos, New Mexico, art community. Born in New York City to Hungarian immigrant parents—including his father, noted author Lajos Egri—he began painting at age seven. His career spanned over seven decades, evolving from early humanitarian-themed social realism to large-scale abstract sculpture inspired by the Southwestern landscape. 

Early Life and Education

  • Family Roots: Raised in an artistic household; his father wrote The Art of Dramatic Writing, and his siblings also pursued commercial and fine arts.
  • Formal Training: Studied at the Leonardo da Vinci School of Art at age seven and later attended the Master Institute of the Roerich Museum on a scholarship.
  • War Service: Served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a mapmaker in the South Pacific.
  • Artistic Evolution in Taos

In 1950, Egri and his first wife, Kit, moved to Taos to study with Louis Ribak. His work underwent a major transformation during this period

Style Shift: Moved away from paintings focused on human struggle and racial oppression toward sculpture that explored natural elements and space.

  • Key Influences: The majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains and mesas redirected his focus toward form and dynamic symmetry.
  • Taos Moderns: Became a member of the "Taos Moderns," a group that helped redefine the region's artistic identity beyond traditional Southwestern subjects. 

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