Frederick Mershimer was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania in 1958. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Carnegie Mellon University in 1980. After moving to New York in 1982, he further developed his talents in graphics and fine art printmaking through studies at the Parsons School of Design, the Pratt Graphic Center and the Manhattan Graphics Center.
Mershimer’s mezzotints can be described as moody, mysterious and majestic. His images capture that special sense of place from the lacy white serenity of a winter garden in Brooklyn to the rushed frenzy of busy commuters around a Manhattan landmark. When he comes south to New Orleans, his lonely French Quarter streets are lined with structures that shutter the ghostly history they house.
The evocative realism he creates transports the viewer beyond first appearances to reveal the hidden beauty and vitality of a scene. At first glance, his work can be interpreted as bold naturalism. Yet, he skillfully choreographs lighting and detail while alternating perspective to draw the viewer’s attention to the essence of the piece. Mershimer’s mezzotints speak to both the grit and grandeur of the modern American city.
