William Saltzman

Vern Carver & Beard Art Galleries

William Saltzman (1916-2006)
Painter, sculptor, muralist, designer and teacher William Saltzman's work can be found in numerous area public buildings and places of worship. Using several types of materials, including stained glass, metal, wood and paint, Saltzman designed and produced artwork for Minnesota buildings such as the Temple of Aaron, St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mount Zion Temple, Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar, United Hospitals, Mayo Clinic, and the University of Minnesota.
Born in Minneapolis, Saltzman is first noted for entering his work into Minnesota State Fair exhibitions beginning in 1936. During WWII, Saltzman was a camouflage advisor for the US Government. From 1948 to 1963, Saltzman was the Director of the Rochester Art Center, which served a small but growing arts community in Southeastern Minnesota. During this time he continued to be involved in several local and national exhibitions of his work. In the 1970s his work was shown at the Suzanne Kohn Gallery. Additionally, Saltzman continued a teaching career that started with a position in the Fairmont, Minnesota Public Schools and concluded with his retirement from the art faculty at Macalester College in 1985.
Along with the many commissions he completed for large spaces, Saltzman's work is part of the collections of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Walker Art Center, and the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, Nebraska.