Marvin Israel

{{Short description|American artist, photographer, painter, teacher and art director (1924–1984)}} {{Infobox artist | name = Marvin Israel | image = 01-Israel Marvin.jpg | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = July 3, 1924 | birth_place = [[Syracuse, New York]], US | death_date = {{death date|1984|5|7|mf=y}} (aged 59) | death_place = [[Dallas]], Texas, US | known_for = Art director, painter, teacher | training = | movement = | notable_works = | patrons = | awards = }}

'''Marvin Israel''' (July 3, 1924 – May 7, 1984) was an American artist, photographer, painter, teacher and art director from New York City known for modern/surreal interiors, abstract imagery.<ref>[http://www.askart.com/askart/i/marvin_israel/marvin_israel.aspx Marvin Israel - Artist, Art - Marvin Israel]</ref> Israel created sinister shadowy and exuberant interiors with implications of violence that were often sexual in nature.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Glueck |first=Grace |date=2005-07-29 |title=Art in Review; Marvin Israel |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/29/arts/art-in-review-marvin-israel.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Life and career== Marvin Israel was born in [[Syracuse, New York]], the son of Bessie and Harry Israel. In 1950, Israel was a graduate student at [[Syracuse University]] and spent two years in [[Paris]] studying and painting.

In 1952, he had his first one-man show at galerie Arnaud, Paris, France.

In November 1953 he participated in a collective exhibition at galerie Suzanne Michel, in Paris, with Nina-Negri, Gilbert Besançon, Robert Fontené, Henri Olive-Tamari, Michel Leroy and Lempereur-Haut.<ref>poster of exhibition archives galerie Suzanne Michel</ref>

The start of his photographic period was in 1953; he studied design with [[Alexey Brodovitch]].

In 1955 he got his Masters of Fine Arts in graphic design from [[Yale]]; became art director for [[Seventeen (American magazine)|Seventeen Magazine]].

In 1956 he photographed [[Elvis]].

In 1960, Israel left photography as his main medium to concentrate on drawing in charcoal, pastel and ink.

From 1961 to 1963 he was art director for ''[[Harper's Bazaar]]'' where he featured [[Richard Avedon]], along with artists such as [[Diane Arbus]], [[Robert Frank]], [[Lee Friedlander]], [[Larry Rivers]], [[Andy Warhol]] and established masters such as [[Henri Cartier-Bresson]] and [[Walker Evans]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Diane Arbus: Chronology|year=2011|publisher=Aperture Foundation|location=New York|isbn=978-1-59711-179-9|pages=157|url=http://www.aperture.org/books/books-new/arbus-chronology.html|author=Doon Arbus|author2=Elizabeth Sussman|access-date=2012-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517073023/http://www.aperture.org/books/books-new/arbus-chronology.html|archive-date=2012-05-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> From 1957 to 1963 he worked as a freelance art director for [[Atlantic Records]], with occasional engagements thereafter.<ref>For example, credited with the cover design of ''[[Do It Now! (Jack McDuff album)|Do It Now!]]'', an album by [[Brother Jack McDuff]], released by Atlantic Records in 1967.</ref> In 1963 he taught painting and design in New York City at [[Parsons School of Design]], [[Cooper Union]] and at the [[Rhode Island School of Design]]<ref>{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DA1138F93BA35756C0A962948260 | work=The New York Times | title=Marvin Israel Is Dead at 61; An Art Director and Painter | date=May 8, 1984}}</ref> 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)|Mademoiselle Magazine]]. In 1970, he designed [[Richard Avedon]]'s photo exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Israel was married to Cuban-born New York sculptor and ceramicist [[Margaret Ponce Israel]]. They maintained a two-story cupola studio/living space on top of a New York City skyscraper. In addition to the American artists and photographers with whom he worked, Israel was widely known among and friendly with such photographers and artists as [[Lisette Model]], [[Mary Frank]], [[Peter Beard]], [[Saul Leiter]] and [[Garry Winogrand]].

In 1972, he appeared as himself in the documentary film, ''Going Where I've Never Been: The Photography of Diane Arbus''.

In 1978, he had a retrospective exhibition at the Brusberg Gallery in Hanover, West Germany.

In May 1984 while in Dallas, Texas, working on [[Richard Avedon]]'s exhibition, "In the American West," Israel had a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] and died.

In 1986, a retrospective of Israel's art was held at Parson's School of Design. In 1991, a retrospective was held at Twining Gallery in NYC.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/search/Search_Repeat.aspx?searchtype=IMAGES&artist=86718 Marvin Israel biography at Ask Art] * [http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/search/Search_Repeat.aspx?searchtype=IMAGES&artist=86718 Examples of Marvin Israel's work] * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1280673 Going where I've Never Been: The Photography of Diane Arbus] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110725165347/http://reframecollection.org/films/film?Id=1619 Who is Marvin Israel]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Israel, Marvin}} [[Category:1924 births]] [[Category:1984 deaths]] [[Category:Artists from Syracuse, New York]] [[Category:Syracuse University alumni]] [[Category:20th-century American painters]] [[Category:American male painters]] [[Category:American contemporary painters]] [[Category:Jewish American painters]] [[Category:American expatriates in France]] [[Category:20th-century American Jews]] [[Category:20th-century American male artists]] [[Category:Cooper Union faculty]]