David Frazer, Professor Emeritus, Painting Department, Fine Arts Division, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) has taught at RISD since 1978.  He has his BFA from RISD 1970 in painting and his MA in painting from University of New Mexico (UNM) 1976.

In 1969-’70 as an undergraduate, he was chosen to participate in the RISD European Honors Program (EHP) Rome, Italy. During that year he travelled primarily in Italy and Holland. His early interest in Flemish painting was then heavily influenced by the frescos of Giotto in Padua and particularly the frescos of Piero della Francesca, Arezzo.  Their colors and combination of realism and abstraction still influence his aesthetic.

In 1978 he began teaching at Rhode Island School of Design. He was appointed to the position of Chief Critic to the RISD Rome Program, the first alumni of that program to become its’ Chief Critic and professor in residence, 1995 -’98.  He continued to return to Rome and teach summer courses in painting and drawing at the Palazzetto Cenci Roma, for the next eight years.

In 1989 he did sponsored research at the Zhejiang Academy of Fine arts in Hangzhou, China, now the Central Academy of Art (CAA). He has had many trips to China, visits and lectures in Tianjin and Shenyang, with shows, 2014 in Beijing and Shenyang and the International Art Center, Fremont CA in 2015 and 2016 at the Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford University.  Recent museum exhibitions in China, Hangzhou 2017, Jinan 2017, with travelling exhibitions in Beijing, Urumqi, Karamay 2017, and travelling exhibitions in Urumqi, Hami, and Beijing 2018.

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