Marvin Israel
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Marvin Israel (July 3, 1924 – May 7, 1984), was born in Syracuse, New York, the son of Bessie and Harry Israel. He was an American artist, photographer, painter, teacher and art director from New York known for modern/surreal interiors, abstract imagery. Created sinister shadowy and exuberant interiors with implications of violence. The violence was often sexual in nature. In 1950 he was a graduate student at Syracuse University. He met and married Margaret Ponce; spent two years in Paris studying and painting. In 1952 he had his first one-man show at Galerie Arnaud, Paris, France. In 1953 was the start of his photographic period; studied design with Alexey Brodovitch. In 1955 he got his Masters of Fine Arts in graphic design from Yale; became art director for Seventeen Magazine. In 1956 he photographed Elvis. In 1960 ,he left photography as his main media to concentrate on drawing in charcoal, pastel and ink; becomes fashion editor for Harper's Bazaar. In 1961 he became art director for Atlantic Records. In 1963 taught painting and design in New York City at "Parsons School of Design", "Cooper Union" and at the Rhode Island School of Design In 1966 he had his first one-man show at Cordier and Elkstron Gallery in NYC. In 1967 he became art director for Mademoiselle Magazine. In 1970 he designed Richard Avadon's photo exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. In 1978 he had a retrospective exhibition in the Brusberg Gallery in Hanover, West Germany. In May of {{1984 while in Dallas, Texas working on Richard Avedon's exhibition, "In the American West" he had a heart attack and died.
He was married to Cuba born, New York artist, Margaret Ponce Israel. He maintained a two-story cupola studio/living space on top of a New York City skyscrapper. He was widely known among American artists and photographers (to the point of having a "cult" following) and was friendly with such notable photographers and artists as Diane Arbus, Lisette Model, Mary Frank, Robert Frank, Lee Friedlander, Peter Beard, Saul Leiter, Garry Winogrand and Richard Avedon. In 1972 he appeared as himself in the documentary film, "Going Where I've Never Been: The Photography of Diane Arbus"
In 1986 a retrospective of Marvin's art was held at Parson's School of Design. In 1991 a retrospective was held at Twining Gallery in NYC.
