Nathaniel Kaz


Nathaniel Kaz was an American sculptor who was born in New York City. His parents were musicians and moved to Detroit when Kaz was young. It was in Detroit when he began his art studies with Samuel Cashwan. After moving to New York, Kaz continued his studies at the Art Students League where he was trained by George Bridgman and William Zorach. In 1988 he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member and became a full Academician in 1991. His son Eric Kaz is a musician and songwriter.

Work

Sculptures by Kaz are on exhibition and can be found in the collections of:
Kaz also produced sculpture under the auspices of the Federal Art Project. He was a founding member of the Sculptors Guild, along with Chaim Gross, Paul Manship, Jose de Creeft, Herbert Ferber, William Zorach, and Jose De Rivera.
Kaz exhibited at the 3rd Sculpture International held in Philadelphia in 1949 and is one of the sculptors in the 70 Sculptors photograph taken there.

Awards and accolades

Kaz has won and received multiple awards and accolades over the course of his life, including: Michigan Sculpture Prize, 1929; Section of Fine Arts Award, 1940; Artists for Victory award, 1942; Audubon Artists 6th Annual, 1947; Sculpture prize, Brooklyn Museum, 1948 and 1952; Alfred G.B. Steel Memorial Prize, 148th Annual exhibition at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 1953.
In 2006, Kaz was awarded the National Sculpture Society's Gold Medal and Maurice B. Hexter Prize at the 73rd Annual Exhibition. He was also awarded in 2006, the Lifetime Achievement in Sculpture Award by Westchester County and the Sculptors' Guild. Kaz had been an instructor at the Art Students League for more than 50 years.