Paul Yank

BORN: 1931- Milwaukee, WI

DIED: October 1, 2020 - Cedarburg, WI

Paul Yank was born and grew up on Milwaukee’s north side. He is a graduate of the Layton School of Art, Milwaukee, where he majored in fine arts as a sculptor.  He also attended University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to attain academic credits needed for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Yank started his professional career as a sculptor in 1958. After a nationwide competition, he was selected as sculptor-in-residence for Milwaukee’s natural history museum. In that eight-year role, Yank thoroughly studied cultural anthropology as he designed and created three-dimensional displays for what is now known as the Milwaukee Public Museum.  In addition, living and studying in Kyoto, Japan for three and a half years while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps aroused Yank’s awareness and knowledge of world cultures. These rich experiences provided inspiring subject matter for much of his artwork.  

By the mid-1960s, commissions for large-scale sculpture and fountains became Yank’s primary business. Sculptural commissions of outdoor fountains, wall reliefs, and free-standing sculptures are in many private residences, corporate offices, as well as religious and public buildings throughout Wisconsin and the USA.   

The artist and his family moved to Cedarburg in 1966, purchasing the former Weber Brewery building complex for Yank’s studio space.  Over the years, Yank transformed the 1840s stone brewery building into a welding and printmaking studio, gallery space for area artists, and an educational center for instructional classes in sculpture, painting, drawing, life drawing, and printmaking. 

Amidst building his own art business, Yank also helped form the Firehouse Fine Arts Association with 15 other art enthusiasts in Cedarburg in 1971.  Then-mayor Fischer gave the group a room in the top floor of Cedarburg’s firehouse for display space.  The organization grew and changed its name to the Wisconsin Fine Arts Association.

Eventually, they leased space in the Washington Building (the 1908 Cedarburg High School building) on Washington Avenue. There they had gallery space and operated as the Ozaukee Art Center from 1975 to 1985.  The City of Cedarburg eventually renovated the Washington Building to become City Hall. The Ozaukee Art Center then moved to Yank’s Brewery Works Complex on Riveredge Drive in Cedarburg.

Yank served as director of the arts organization for 38 years while offering various art courses.  Until his passing, Yank continued teaching and mentoring and will long be remembered by his admiring students. He proudly shared his university-quality presses while instructing area artists in various types of printmaking. He also found time to serve on the City of Cedarburg’s public art commission. 

As a sculptor, Yank’s process and subjects often informs his printmaking - and vice versa. Colored glass is an integral component when combined with his welded or braised metal - often bearing figural shapes.  The glass reflects light in different ways amidst the three-dimensional masses, depending on the viewer’s position and changing light of day.

Mastering  the lithographic and etching processes, his primary print process become the monoprint. Like his sculpture, he prefers to build in an additive fashion. Yank built his monoprints in a layered manner until the composition achieves his desired complexity and structural integrity. 

Mr. Yank's passion and dedication of the arts has deeply impacted the landscape of Wisconsin Art on all levels. Arguably Cedarburg's "artist in residence", Yank has further elevated Cedarburg's reputation as one of the most significant artists' communities in Wisconsin.

The Gallery is honored to represent the work of Mr. Yank. If you are interested in viewing and/or purchasing any of the work shown, (more work is also available) please contact the gallery at 414-630-3600 or info@GalleryofWisconsinArt.com.