Today we’d like to introduce you to Norma Malerich.
Norma, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always considered myself an artist since a little girl. In high school and college, I was always on the “art committees”, did cartoons for the year books, school papers, majored in Fine Art, etc. I attended Ward-Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee and Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. I sold my first painting at age 20, lived in Japan for two years {in the late fifties} which I consider a two-year crash course in Fine Art. In the sixties, I started to attend out door art shows in the St. Louis area. In the late sixties, I started the Artist Boutique which is a bi-annual judged art show in St. Louis County which I’m proud to say is still being held. In the early seventies, a friend and I opened The Art Works, Inc. in a historic house in St. Louis County. I raised three children and always kept an easel up to continue my dreams. I taught painting for the Red Cross at St. Vincent’s Hospital for the mentally ill.
Our gallery was in business for about ten years and due to the passing of my husband, I soon became a resident of South Florida where I continued to paint. I have been represented by McCaughen & Burr Fine Art Gallery in St. Louis County for about 15 years. They have been in business since the 1840’s and I am proud to say I have been listed as one of their feature artists. I have been represented by several galleries in this long lifetime of mine and happily still painting.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The DNA of an artist is always there whatever life brings. Yes, a lot of struggles but the creative adventure keeps me afloat. I am 87 years old and have been widowed three times. Started out young with this pattern.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am most proud that some of the owners of my work find me and send a picture, etc. and tell me how much it has meant to them. They wonder if I am still painting and what is available, etc. I paint all the time and they all eventually go somewhere. I really have never considered myself as a business. Other artists have said they wished they had my imagination. My “women” paintings look very Russian. I have been painting them this way since the 70s. I have no Russian heritage and visited Russia for the first time in 1998 and was stunned when I saw some girls dressed in historic costumes. I have visited China many times and love to paint my version of a Chinese Junk. I have always loved the Orient so I think I make a mix of that with the Russian slant.
What were you like growing up?
Always the “artist” — always good grades. I went to college at age 16, but had always been a class leader. I was president of a high school girl’s literary society. Later, I realized my competition was usually 18 years old but, I never thought of it that way.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2200 S. Ocean Blvd.
902 Delray Beach, Florida
33483 - Website: norma malerich
- Phone: 561 376 9776
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: norma malerich
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