Michael Mabry
Born1955 (age 67–68)
Niles, Michigan, US
EducationIowa State University, University of Utah
MovementPacific Wave design movement
SpouseSarah Mercer Keith
Websitehttp://www.michaelmabry.com/

Michael Mabry (born 1955) is an American graphic designer, illustrator, and educator, he is the Principal at Michael Mabry Design. He was one of the founders of the San Francisco Bay Area postmodern movement in graphic design, that later became known as the "Pacific Wave".[1]

Biography

Michael Mabry was born in 1955 in Niles, Michigan and raised in Park Forest, Illinois.[2][3] Mabry attended Iowa State University for a year.[2] He then moved in 1974 to the University of Utah to study architecture, but changed focus and instead graduated in 1978 with a BA degree in Graphic Design.[2] In 1979, he was invited to join Nicolas Sidjakov and Jerry Berman at the design firm of Sidjakov & Berman Associates in San Francisco.[2]

In the early 1980s a few San Francisco–based designers were nicknamed “The Michaels” because they all had the same name (Mabry, alongside Cronan, Manwaring, Vanderbyl, Schwab), and later they were known as the "Pacific Wave" according to historian Steven Heller.[4][1][5][6]

In 1981, he opened his own design firm, Michael Mabry Design.[1] Mabry is married to Sarah Mercer Keith, and she is a partner in his design firm.[7][8] Clients have included The Land of Nod, NetJets Europe, the Andrew Mellon Foundation, Chronicle Books, Hewlett-Packard, and The New York Times.[7][9] The design for the packaging of Mottura shower curtain rings won awards and was included in I.D. magazine's annual design review in 1994.[10]

Mabry was a founding member of the American Institute of Graphic Art (AIGA) chapter in San Francisco, and served as the first Treasurer and second President.[9] He was awarded the 2014 AIGA Medal.[2] He has taught at California College of the Arts (CCA) in the graphic design department.[11]

Mabry's work is in various public museum collections including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA).[12] He has been a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) since 2000.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Camuffo, Giorgio (1987). Pacific Wave: California Graphic Design (in Italian). April Greiman, Museo Fortuny. Magnus. ISBN 9788870570700.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "2014 AIGA Medalist: Michael Mabry". American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  3. ^ Jong, Cees de; Burger, Stefanie; Both, Jorre (2008). New Poster Art. Thames & Hudson. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-500-28723-1.
  4. ^ "2014 AIGA Medalist: Michael Cronan". American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  5. ^ Bierut, Michael (2019-03-12). Now You See It and Other Essays on Design. Chronicle Books. p. 184. ISBN 978-1-61689-676-8.
  6. ^ "Michael: They Have Come To Symbolize San Francisco Design". Newspapers.com. The San Francisco Examiner. 26 January 1986. pp. 23–27. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  7. ^ a b "Fellow Awards 2011 Interview: Michael Mabry". AIGA San Francisco. 2015-11-21. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  8. ^ "Michael Mabry Celebrates the Simple Pleasures in The Land of Nod". Communication Arts. 2007-03-04. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  9. ^ a b "Lecture Series: Designer & Illustrator Michael Mabry". Shaw Gallery, Weber State University. November 29, 2012. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  10. ^ Ho, Cathy Lang (24 August 1994). "Local firms again win big in design competitions, from computer gear to shower rings, products corporate and quirky win judges' favor". Newspapers.com. The San Francisco Examiner. p. 67. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  11. ^ "Distinguished Alumni". Department of Art & Art History. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  12. ^ "Mabry, Michael". SFMOMA. Retrieved 2021-01-01.


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