Thomas Torak [NRA 1991-2003, EM 2003]
Bread and wine, 2022
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 inches

L I N E A G E
The Art Students League was founded in 1875. An art school created by artists, based on the 19th Century French atelier system, that allowed its instructors the autonomy to teach their classes in whatever manner best suited their artistic philosophy. Many of those instructors handed their class over to the best of their students who then passed on that knowledge to the next generation.
Frank Vincent Dumond (1865-1951) studied at the Art Students League from 1884 to 1888 with Carroll Beckwith and William Sartain. He taught at the ASL from 1892 to 1951. Frank Mason (1921-2009) studied with Dumond for many years, took over the class on Dumond’s passing, and taught until 2008. Thomas Torak (1953- ) studied with Mason, and continued the legacy in person at the League until 2020 and now teaches an online portrait class. All three are Salmagundians: Dumond 1900-1951, Mason 1960-2009, and Torak 1994-present.