| Facts/Data
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Birth
1923 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Death
2009 (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
Lived/Active
Pennsylvania
Constantine John Kermes
Often Known For
religious icon, mural painting, graphics
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This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  Constantine "Gus" Kermes was born in December of 1923. He was the oldest first generation son of John Dimitri and Elthterini Kermes, who were born in Smyrna, Turkey (formerly part of Greece). In the 1930 Census the family was living in Crafton, Allegheny County, PA and his father was the Manager of a Billiard and Bowling establishment.
A long-time resident of Lancaster County, Kermes was married to Bessie Sarantopoulos Kermes and employed as an Industrial Designer by Sperry/Ford New Holland Machine Company from 1955 to 2004, receiving 24 Design Patents during his employment as well as a number of awards from the American Iron and Steel Institute and Industrial Design Magazine.
He was a member and past president of the Landis Valley Museum Associates and the Echo Valley Art Group and a member of the American Watercolor Society.
As a painter, he had 10 solo exhibitions at the Jacques Seligman Gallery in New York City alone, as well as over 200 more in galleries and museums around the U.S. In 2009 his work was accepted in the National Juried Show of the American Watercolor Society, and he had a one-man Retrospective Exhibition at the Lancaster Museum of Art.
In his book Work in Progress, published in 2008, Kermes chronicles his 60 year career as an artist.
Gus Kermes passed on May 19, 2009 at Essa Flory Hospice Center, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Sources include:
Census,
Local newspaper obituary
Information provided by Gary Hawbaker
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This biography from the Archives of AskART:
| The following is from James F. X. Mc Ilhinney Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, collector of work by the artist.
At the age of 81 years old, Kermes was one of those notables that newspapers take joy in reporting his 'in attendance' at Pennsylvania art shows. He resided in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Known for his figurative and abstract artwork, over his career his subject matter and medium choices are varied, though he is probably initially best known for his 'Amish" art in rural life scene, and his basic simple patterns and colors that reflect the plainness of the Amish environment. He has painted some very sharp more contemporary subject matter in watercolor, also.
Mr. Kermes was the artist who painted the John F. Kennedy Memorial Portrait. In the 1960's, he produced some unique 'wood block' printings that have become quite collectible, especially if you are fortunate enough to find one that is the first printing Artists Proof.
Mr. Kermes graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1946, studying design and art. In 1955, he moved to Lancaster, where he worked for New Holland North America Inc. company in industrial design.
Mr. Kermes was a Signature Member of the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society. He had many solo shows, over two hundred, including the Jacques Seligmann Gallery in New York as well as many other prestigious galleries and showings where he has received many many awards.
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