Paul was born in Bay City on June 30th, 1939. A lifelong artist and student of the world, Paul first experienced the transformative power of the arts as a small child when he viewed a 50-foot triptych altar adorned with ten life-sized figures and attempted to capture the image with crayons on loose-leaf paper. From that pivotal moment emerged a celebrated career for Paul, with the guiding ambition to preserve and foster true beauty in the world. Having always found pleasure and expression in drawing, paint entered as a new medium for the young artist at the age of 13. His muses were abundant: libraries were the sources for his study of the classics and art history, a serene garden offered him lessons on nature and light, and neighbors were often the source for portraiture and studies of anatomy.

 

At 17 came the first awards in exhibitions with requests for his works. Sales continued, allowing him at the age of 24 to spend the first of three full summers experiencing Greece, Crete, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and England. Paul’s devotion to his native state has produced many works, in all media, of the magnificent seasons and beautiful country scenes. Private exhibitions of the works in oil, water color, drawings and sculpture completed either abroad or in his Athens and Bay City studios were highly successful.  Among the many portraits Paul painted were Rudolf Nureyev, John F. Kennedy, and Popes Pius XII, John XXIII and Paul VI.

 

His work endures in several public and private collections throughout Europe and the United States, and his art has been displayed in many galleries throughout the world, including in Bay City, Chicago, Palm Beach, New York City and Athens, Greece. Throughout his career, Paul has experienced the joy of entertaining everyone from monarchs and celebrities to students and friends, eager to illuminate ways of seeing the everyday beauty around them. Paul spent his entire life creating beauty and art and sharing his knowledge of the world with countless friends, confidants, students, and collectors. For all that knew him, Paul was a force for recognizing and appreciating beauty in all aspects of life, and he will always be remembered for his fierce intellect, artistic vision, and tenacious spirit.

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Paul T. Kusmierz 

June 30, 1939–January 7, 2023
He is survived by his daughter, Katherine (Jonathan) Lundeen and grandson Quentin. Paul was one of five siblings and is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 13th at Our Lady of Czestochowa in Bay City, Michigan, preceded by a visitation at 9:00 a.m. A private graveside service at Elm Lawn Cemetery will follow for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Delta College Fine Arts Program, Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, or other local organizations that support and nurture young artists.