Al Lorenz served as President from 1999 – 2001. He was also a longtime member. The Society recognizes and sends thanks for his many decades of support and generosity. He will be deeply missed.
Albert Lorenz has left the building but not without leaving an indelible mark in the world of illustration and education. Al passed away on Friday, June 30 at 4:50 AM. He was comfortable and surrounded by family in the days leading up to his passing.
Al was born in 1941 and was raised in New York City. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute in 1965. That same year, he married Maureen McCartney and then entered military service in the US Army for two years, thirteen months of which were spent overseas in Korea. Upon returning home, he continued his architectural studies at Columbia University and received a Master of Science in Architecture in 1969. He worked in the architectural field for several years but did not stay there long.
He began his illustration career in 1971 working as a freelance artist when he formed his studio. At the same time he began teaching illustration in the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute. The Albert Lorenz Studio went on to produce a wide spectrum of art including illustrations for advertising, newspapers, magazines, editorials, children’s books and book covers as well as illustrations for many architectural firms. ( Lorenz gradually evolved his singular style by combining his knowledge of architecture with his imagination as an artist.)
His work was cited for numerous honors including the Gold Medal from the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators for his book, Metropolis Ten Cities Ten Centuries, published by Harry N. Abrams, 1996 and the Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators, New York as well as the Stevan Dohanos Award from the same society.
His work was also published in the New York Times, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Architectural Record, and many other periodicals. He received commissions from the American Institute of Architects, the Museum of Modern Art, NY, and the American Museum of Natural History, NY.
Harry N. Abrams published all his books: Metropolis Ten Cities Ten Centuries, 1996; House, 1998; Buried Blueprints – Maps and Sketches of Lost Worlds and Mysterious Places, 1999; Jack and the Beanstalk, 2004; A Journey to Cahokia, 2005; The Trojan Horse, 2007; and The Exceptionally Extraordinarily Ordinary First Day of School, 2010; and he self published Renovated Fairy Tales, 2011.
He is well known for his Buried Blueprints illustrations, a series inspired by a combination of historical and mythological themes.
After thirty years as professor of media and communications Al retired from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY where he was Institute Distinguished Professor.
Al is survived by his wife, Maureen and his two daughters, Margaret Lorenz and Kirsten Guerin and granddaughters Lily Guerin, Molly Guerin and Parker Groshans.
“President’s Portrait of Al Lorenz” by James Bennett.