Born in Connecticut, Mildred Kouzel has lived most of her adult life in Southern California. She received her training at California State University, Long Beach, in drawing and painting (BA). Kouzel completed her advanced training in the Fine Arts at California State University, Long Beach, with an emphasis in sculpture, specifically bronze casting (MA).

Kouzel’s sculpture expresses “…states of mind as affected by daily life, environment, family and society. It reflects changes of mood in response to life’s joys, sorrows, television, advertising and the daily pile of junk mail. It is my diary, a recording of transformations in response to life’s changes.” She also speaks through her “Greek Vases” of how our “… love of modern society and the nostalgia for the past can evoke a romantic notion of loss of a better life.” Kouzel adds, “My perception is that freeways are the architectural icon of our time, comparable to the aquaducts of the past. The banality of these insertions into the vessels of a once revered society and the displacement of time and space can evoke a response of humor.” Others of Mildred Kouzel’s artworks, drawings and paintings, comment humorously on our reigning obsession with youth and surface appearance.

Among the art reviews and articles on Mildred Kouzel’s work are those appearing in the LA Times. “The most striking and coherent body of work in the show comes from Mildred Kouzel.” ARTWEEK, “Kouzel develops an interesting play of rough, crayonlike strokes against smooth and grainy textures…” Orange County Times, “…familiar Greek vases [are] updated with freeway scenes.”

Mildred Kouzel has exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries, museums and alternative sites. California venues include, Agoura Hills Municipal Gallery; Platt Gallery, University of Judaism; Brand Libraries Art Gallery; Wignal Museum Gallery; Downey Museum; Brea Civic Gallery; Century Gallery; Mills House Municipal Gallery; Pine Street Lobby Gallery, San Francisco. East Coast venues such as the Amos Enos Gallery, New York and Seasoned Eye traveling exhibit, Washington DC & New York. International exhibits included works shown at the U.N. World Conference on Women, American Album Women Artists, Nairobi, Kenya. Public Art projects include the Hunt Library, two sculptures from her “First Night Series;” City of Brea Bus Shelter Program, painting installation; John Wayne Airport, “Innaugural Exhibit.”

Kouzel received major art commissions from Home Savings Bank, Irwindale, California, “Family,” life-sized bronze; Temple Beth Tikvah, Fullerton, California, stained glass windows; Ark Doors, sculptured Bas Relief, cast bronze. Her work is also found in private art collections. California: Dr. & Mrs. R. Ransom; Dr. & Mrs Serbin; Dr. Edward & Leyah Brosbe; Mr. Carl Steiner; Mr. & Mrs. Perlman; Ms. Janice De Loof; and Mr. John Kerr. National: Dr. Edward & Leyah Brosbe, Oregon; Nickols King, Colorado; Mrs. Ruth Stone, Florida; Mr. & Mrs. D. Lindsey, Chicago, Ill.; Dr. & Mrs M. Lewin, Florida. Her work is also found in the Maynard Walker Art Collection, Kansas.