Art at GVSU

Grand Valley State University (GVSU) holds the third largest art collection in the state of Michigan and has activated its collection for learning and curriculum integration. Spanning throughout all GVSU campuses and incorporated into every university building, art is on public display providing unparalleled access. The GVSU Art Gallery empowers our community to engage with visual narratives that align with university values through diverse exhibitions and a borderless museum across campus. We utilize digital initiatives and active learning opportunities to spark conversations, action, and reflection on core themes of social justice, human rights, and empathy that align with the university's philosophy of liberal arts education.

The Armand Merizon Collection, 1920 -2010

This is the catalogue raisonné of Armand Merizon’s paintings and drawings. The catalogue documents more than 1000 works of art. Newly rediscovered works are regularly added to the catalog after authentication and documentation. Please contact us with any questions or if you have additional works to add to this catalogue raisonné.

Merizon’s artistic career began in 1927 when he was only seven years old. His mentor was a graphic designer who happened to be the father of his neighborhood friend. This relationship was validation and encouragement from an adult who shared Merizon’s passion for representing the world on paper and canvas. The artist pursued his artwork through the support of his community and family until the end of his life in 2010.

Armand Merizon was born to Dutch immigrants of French extraction in Kalamazoo, Michigan. When he was three years old, his family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he spent his life focused on his artwork. He enjoyed forays to the Southwest, the East Coast, and Europe. His work has a wide range of subject matter, medium, and genre, and is found in many institutional and private collections.

 

A Special Thanks

The Armand Merizon Catalogue Raisonné gift was made to Grand Valley State University in 2020 by:

Chantal VanHeest, Merizon Studio
chantal@merizonstudio.com

The Armand Merizon Family

Index Projects
indexprojects.org

Edgar and Wendy Marty

Additional special thanks to Muriel Zandstra for providing scholarship and research from her publication “Armand Merizon: His Life and Art“ that will be implemented into this website in the near future.