Martin Friedman

Martin Lee Friedman (September 23, 1925 – May 9, 2016) was an American museum curator who spent the majority of his career as the director of the Walker Art Center and oversaw the opening of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1989.

Early life Friedman was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] Friedman earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Washington. He earned a Master of Arts in studio art and art history at University of California, Los Angeles. After graduation, Friedman spent the beginnings of his career teaching art in high schools and colleges around Los Angeles. His transition into curating began after winning a fellowship to study African art in Belgium. Upon finishing the fellowship, Friedman was hired on as a curator at the Walker Art Center in 1958.

Walker Art Center The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, had been around since 1879. The museum originated to showcase the private gallery of lumber baron T. B. Walker in his home and was formally established as the Walker Art Gallery in 1927. While some acquisitions were made between this time and Friedman's hire in 1958, the museum did not begin to take shape until after Friedman began work at the museum. In 1961, Friedman became the director of the museum at the age of 36. He is largely credited for making the museum what it is today. Friedman mentored many curators during his tenure that went on to prominent roles in the art world. Adam Weinberg, the current director of the Whitney Museum of American Art, described himself as a protege of Friedman. Weinberg said of Friedman, “Martin understood that the power of a museum comes from giving voice to artists as well as showcasing their art. He was a major voice for artists and a real champion of freedom of expression.” In 2016, Friedman died at the age of 90.