Merlino, Maxine Ollie Seelbinder, 1912-

Variant names

Hide Profile

Arts administrator, painter, muralist, lithographer, illustrator, writer; Long Beach, Calif.; Born in Portland, Or. in 1912.

From the description of Maxine Seelbinder Merlino papers, 1928-2003. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79899130

Maxine Ollie Seelbinder Merlino was born in Portland, Oregon in 1912. She trained at the Portland Art Museum School before venturing to New York City where she took classes at the Art Students' League with, among others, Will Barnet, Anton Refregier, Adolph Gottlieb, Hans Hofmann, and Harry Sternberg. Maxine Merlino worked in New York from 1936 to 1943 as a free-lance illustrator, muralist, and theatrical set designer.

In 1940 and 1942, Merlino won mural commissions for the United States Department of Interior Section of Fine Arts program. She designed and executed murals for the S.S. Garfield, and painted a mural that graced the Recorder of Deeds Building in Washington, D.C., one of seven murals in the building celebrating the contributions of African Americans.

Relocating to Long Beach, California in 1943, she worked as a scientific illustrator for the Army Air Force during the Second World War and subsequently as a stage, set and costume designer for theater and film producer Preston Sturges. From the early 1950s until her retirement in 1976, she was affiliated with California State University, Long Beach where she served as a Professor of Art and Theater Design and then as Dean of the Art Department. In recognition of Dr. Merlino's contributions to the department, the university dedicated an art gallery in her name, in February 2003.

From the guide to the Maxine Seelbinder Merlino papers, 1928-2003, (Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Maxine Seelbinder Merlino papers Archives of American Art
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith California State University, Long Beach corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
California
Subject
Art
Federal aid to the arts
Mural painting and decoration
Mural painting and decoration
Set designers
Set designers
Women artists
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1912

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n02w41

Ark ID: w6n02w41

SNAC ID: 51330154