Emrich Nicholson (1913-2001)

Emrich Nicholson 
(American, 1913-2001)



Emrich Nicholson, creator of “Enforta Glass”, was born in Indiana and moved to southern California at an early age.  At age 12 he won the blue ribbon at the county fair for his first oil painting. This was just the beginning for the multi-talented designer, artist, and author.  

Nicholson studied at the Chouinard Art School for two years and graduated from Yale University with a degree in fine arts in 1936.  He began his career as a textile designer.  In 1939 he was selected to design rugs, glass doors, souvenir books, and pennants for the 1939 New York World’s Fair, earning recognition from New York’s Museum of Modern Art.   His work also was featured in Vogue, the New Yorker, and Time magazines.  In 1941, Nicholson began experimenting and researching a new art form that he coined ‘Enforta Glass”, a unique process created through the fusion of the art of painting and the art of glass making.  After World War II, Nicholson went to Hollywood and was the art director of more than 100 films for Paramount and Universal Studios, including an Academy Award nomination for his work in the 1948 film “One Touch of Venus” and the hit film “Magnificent Obsession” with Rock Hudson in 1954. He also authored “Contemporary Shops in the United States”. He helped create television commercials for United Airlines, Kellogg’s, Gallo wines, and other accounts. 

Nicholson retired in 1965 and moved to Hawai'i where he focused on oil paintings of still-life and landscapes inspired by his Puako surroundings.  His vibrant images of flowers and Hawai'i landscapes received wide recognition throughout the state.  His work reflects the creativity of a prolific painter who continued to explore new methods, color mixtures, and views throughout his life.