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BORN
1938
DIED
2019
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Michael Dvortcsak Obituary
Ojai - Beloved father, grandfather, and acclaimed artist, Michael Jon "Mickey" Dvortcsak, 81, of Ojai, California, passed peacefully on Saturday, November 30, 2019.
Mickey was born in Buffalo, New York to Michael and Emma Dvortcsak on November 28, 1938. He moved to Southern California as a child where he attended and graduated from Mark Kepple High School. Inspired by art at an early age, Mickey turned a knack of drawing cartoons into an art scholarship at the University of California-Santa Barbara where he graduated with a bachelor of arts in 1961. During this time, one summer was spent at Disneyland as a caricaturist. Inspired by the great artists, Mickey spent the next several years living in Europe visiting museums, drawing, painting, and honing his artistic craft before returning to the United States where he received a master of fine arts degree at UCSB in 1968. After some years teaching art at UCSB, Mickey followed his professional heart and pursued a career as a full-time artist. His profession took off as he was able to secure dozens of solo exhibits throughout the U.S. and achieve professional acclaim for his unique style, incredible use of color, balance of science and spirituality, mastery of shapes and portals, and his powerful ability to capture the human figure and spirit. In addition to art, Mickey loved to travel, cheer on his Lakes/Yankees/Bruins, run along the beach, eat a good bowl of pasta, and spend time with his friends and family. He also loved having visitors to his studio where he would serve up a cup of his famous coffee along with a tune from his ukulele or piano.
Mickey is survived by his children, Mischa, Alexey, and Annie, and grandchildren Niko, Eli, Brody, Katharina, Ella, Trent and Jordan. A small family service will be held in the near future while a larger, public life ceremony will be held in January.
Please go to https://www.reardonfuneral.com/Obituaries.html for updates on services, to send condolences, or a message to his family. Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 East Main Street, Ventura.
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Memories and Condolences
for Michael Dvortcsak
Sponsored by Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home & Cremation Service - Ventura.
6 Entries
Szaja Gottlieb
May 2, 2021
I had thoughts of Mickey this morning and was reaching out to make contact with him after not seeing him for many years. My daughter is interested in art and I thought to myself, what better way to see an artist at work and meet a "real" artist than going to Mickey's studio in Ojai. I am a bit shocked. I was a older but budding artist in Santa Barbara in the 70's and 80's when i met Mickey went to many of his openings. A gentle humorous soul who I always held in the highest regard. My condolences at your loss and ours as well.
James Edwards
May 31, 2020
I know its late, but I live in South Carolina and I just found out about Mickeys passing. He was my MFA Graduate committee chairman and had an indelible impact on my career as an artist and 36 years as a Professor the University Of South Carolina. One of his paintings, a wedding gift, hangs prominently in our living room.
stanley somers
May 6, 2020
Through Howard Warshaw and Rico Lebrun, Mickey was connected to a grand approach in art from the Renaissance to the deconstructionist cubist ideas. Both Lebrun and Warshaw abstracted the figures and composition by use of transparencies and multiple views to form their figures. Almost akin to Bacon, DeKooning and Picasso. Both artist did not use the comic humor point of views of Picasso and Dekooning, but rather kept it closely align to a re investment of the Renaissance with the modern processes of cubism. Mickey lived this in works that ranged from classical to free formed abstraction of figures and forms. For me Mickey will always be aligned to these great artist. Warshaw, Dvortcsak and Lebrun
stanley somers
March 6, 2020
a friend, a teacher of figure drawing extrodinaire, and colleague as a painter, helped me have a gallery in Los Angeles in 1980, Kirk De Gooyer, introduced me to Marsea Goldberg and spoke at our wedding.......his drawings in the tradition of Howard Warshaw who taught both of us are probably the greatest of Howard's students....he lived Howard's legacy and never waivered.......an inspiration of the great tradition of drawing and painting
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December 12, 2019
i just rec'd an email from Mick's longtime friend Tony Cohan alerting me to this sad news...My condolences to Mickey's children and grandkids (he was such a kid at heart).. i have so many sweet memories of our friendship which launched in the 1980s - when introduced by John Widmer.. I have a big heart that Mickey painted for a CAF show that he gave me and have been carrying it around a lot lately - - so i guess you could say i've been holding Mickey's heart in my hands.. very sad news.. but his legacy will live on through his amazing work and colorful character. May peace be with you.. fly free old pal. L
Annie Havens
December 6, 2019
My Pops was the most creative and introspective man. Whenever you were around him you were inspired towards some creative greatness....cooking, art, music, just basic human goodness. I will miss you Pops. Your art is on every wall of my home and your care and acceptance lines my heart. Miss you already.
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