Maurice Silber was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 12 1922 and was an extraordinary American artist whose multifaceted career spanned painting, illustration, jewelry design, model making, and entrepreneurship. His creative journey began early as a member of the inaugural class of Music and Art High School. While still in high school, he participated in a national competition, independently designing and constructing an exact-scale model of the Perkins Observatory’s 69-inch reflector telescope. Various materials and innovative techniques were used to simulate real objects and textures. Surrounding the model was a large oil painting depicting the solar system he created specifically as a backdrop. It was exhibited at the Museum of Natural History in New York and then moved to the Westinghouse Building at the New York World's Fair in 1939, having won first prize in this national competition and receiving a specially created award for its dramatic value.
Maurice was accepted to Pratt Institute, attending in the evening and majoring in Industrial Design. This course included the creation of designs from his drawings and seeing them become a reality by using a diversity of fabricating techniques. After attending Pratt Institute in 1940, Maurice refined his craft at prestigious institutions such as the Art Students League (1945) and Cooper Union (1940–1942), where he studied under leading watercolorists. He further broadened his artistic education with studies in industrial design under Donald Dohner, and in watercolor with masters such as Ed Whitney, Robert E. Wood, John Pike, and Tom Hill. Maurice continued his artistic and academic growth, attending Queens College and Empire State College (SUNY) from 1979 to 1981, ultimately earning a Master of Arts from New York University in 1984. His artistic excellence was recognized with the E. W. Graham Memorial Award in 1976 and an ANCO award in the late 1970s.
During World War II, Maurice served honorably in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the European Theater from 1942 to 1945. As a flight engineer on B-17 and B-24 bombers, he flew 43 combat missions with the 406th Bomb Squadron, earning the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and several commendations. His squadron was the only heavy bomber unit in the entire Eighth Air Force to fly "lone wolf" missions - undertaking solo night flights deep into enemy territory without fighter escort. For more detail about Maurice's military career see his essay on Military Service.
After the war, Maurice redirected his technical precision and artistic sensibilities toward jewelry design. In 1947, he founded Jewel Arts Inc., a company that became a major supplier to New York and national retailers because of its beautiful designs, technical innovations, and masterful craftsmanship. In the early 1970s, he sold Jewel Arts, Inc., and founded Maurice Silber, Inc., continuing his innovative contributions to jewelry design.
As an artist, Maurice exhibited widely both nationally and internationally in solo and group shows. His work, renowned for its sensitivity to light, mood, and delicate nuance, often reflected his lifelong passion for the sea — a theme evident in many of his paintings, though his subject matter was always varied. His canvases have found permanent homes in esteemed collections such as the U.S. Navy Combat Art Collection, the U.S. Air Force Art Museum, the Department of the Interior National Park Service, Yachting magazine, the East Hampton Historical Society, the Marine Museum, and the Teatro Nacional in Costa Rica, among many others. He was also celebrated as the author and artist featured at the "Watercolor Page" in the June 1972 edition of American Artist magazine. His work also appeared in numerous other publications.
Maurice’s professional affiliations were as distinguished as his creative output. He was a member of — and in some cases held leadership roles within prestigious organizations including the Salmagundi Club (serving as admissions chairman from 1972 to 1974), the Society of Illustrators, the Artists Fellowship, the San Diego Watercolor Society, the La Jolla Art Association, the American Society of Marine Artists, the Knickerbocker Artists (where he received an ANCO award), the League of Nassau County, Artists Equity, the American Artists Professional League, and the National Art League. His achievements have been widely recognized in listings such as "Who’s Who in American Art", "Who Was Who in America", "Who’s Who in the East", and "Who’s Who in the World".
Beyond his artistic and professional pursuits, Maurice was a devoted family man. He married Lillian Lowy on December 23, 1950, and was the proud father of Roger and Rona Silber. Maurice Silber passed away on November 29, 1995, in San Diego, leaving behind an indelible legacy as a pioneering artist, innovative craftsman, and dedicated educator whose diverse talents continue to inspire.
