HILDY MAZE: VAJRAYOGINI’S AWAKENING

GALLERY 851

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT

Alexander Reinwald, Gallery 851
851 Springs Fireplace Road, East Hampton, NY 11937
(917) 293-7845
info@gallery851.com

EAST HAMPTON, NY – OCTOBER 21, 2026

HILDY MAZE: VAJRAYOGINI’S AWAKENING

Gallery 851 will be presenting Hildy Maze, VAJRAYOGINI’S AWAKENING, on view October 23 – November 29, 2026 – the second of two successive exhibitions.

OPENING RECEPTION

October 23, 2026, 5 – 8pm

Gallery 851 is honored to present nine paintings by Hildy Maze (1949–2020) produced circa 1985–1987. The works are of Tantric Buddhist design following Hildy’s spiritual awakening after studying deeply the principles and doctrine of Vajrayana Buddhism. Large works of oil painted on mixed media of burlap and cheesecloth, mounted into solid wood frames.

HILDY, THE VAJRAYOGINI

After graduating high school (circa 1966), Hildy apprenticed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and studied theater at Emerson College in Boston for a year before transferring to the Pratt Institute in New York, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a focus on graphic design. During her last semester at Pratt, she was hired as an assistant to Milton Glaser, the renowned graphic designer, and would go on to become the manager of his studio.

Hildy – “During my last semester at Pratt, I had the good fortune to work for Milton Glaser as his assistant during the celebrated launch of New York Magazine. While at Milton Glaser Inc., I was editor of the award-winning Audience Magazine, a journal of short stories, poetry, essays, photography and art; and organized an installation at the World Trade Center, as well as designed a piece for the exhibition. In my spare time, I did commercial design projects of collaged assemblages, constructions and installations made of found objects. I became a full-time commercial freelance designer, making assemblages and constructions for The New York Times, various book publishers, music companies and magazines for about two years during the 1970s.”

Hildy was a member of the New York Buddhist community since the mid-1970s. She attended the Vajradhatu Seminary in Boulder, Colorado, 1982, where she studied Vajrayana doctrine. Vajradhatu Seminary was a twelve-week program of practice and study, and was the principal training ground for Trungpa Rinpoche’s North American students. During his lifetime, the Vidyadhara conducted thirteen seminaries starting in 1973. Shortly after her time with the Seminary, Hildy traveled throughout India to closer connect with her Vajrayana practices, guided by her teacher, Chögyam Trungpa.

Hildy Maze – “In 1984, I no longer wanted to struggle to maintain my increasingly expensive New York City loft. I decided instead to move from my beloved Tribeca apartment to East Hampton, New York, to be near the ocean while continuing my meditation practice and developing my painting. My desire was to merge formal meditation with daily life and making art, and to be able to communicate this to others.”

“Nothing I could write would be enough to pay tribute to darling Hildy. Her friendship has been like a diamond in my life. Hildy was one of the bravest travelers, most sincere lovers of the earth, most devoted dharma sisters, and most uncompromising, free-spirited, adventurous, true-hearted beings I have had the privilege to know and relish in my life.

Impossibly broke, creating uncounted priceless art forms, following inspiration in everything, adoring and caring for this world almost without limit. Hildy’s jubilant life was dharma art itself, and her wisdom and compassion always rode hand in hand.

To lose her is almost unbearable. Perhaps we never shall; she was so integrated with everything, in every bird, animal, tree or ocean wave.”
– From friend Susie Vincent

ABOUT GALLERY 851

Gallery 851 is an independent, artist-run exhibition and studio space in the historic district of Springs, NY. Presenting contemporary art with a focus on both the maker and their work. Programming will include group and solo exhibitions by emerging, mid-career and established artists, as well as features of historically significant artists, in cooperation with representative estates.

For more information, exhibition images, or to arrange a preview – please email info@gallery851.com

Gallery 851 is open
Friday – Monday 2–6pm or by appointment