# Marvin Israel > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Marvin_Israel > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Marvin_Israel.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Israel > Source revision: 1350438991 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American artist, photographer, painter, teacher and art director (1924–1984) Marvin Israel Born July 3, 1924 Syracuse, New York, US Died (1984-05-07)May 7, 1984 (aged 59) Dallas, Texas, US Known for Art director, painter, teacher **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.[1] Israel created sinister shadowy and exuberant interiors with implications of violence that were often sexual in nature.[2] ## Life and career Marvin Israel was born in [Syracuse, New York](/source/Syracuse%2C_New_York), the son of Bessie and Harry Israel. In 1950, Israel was a graduate student at [Syracuse University](/source/Syracuse_University) and spent two years in [Paris](/source/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.[3] The start of his photographic period was in 1953; he studied design with [Alexey Brodovitch](/source/Alexey_Brodovitch). In 1955 he got his Masters of Fine Arts in graphic design from [Yale](/source/Yale); became art director for [Seventeen Magazine](/source/Seventeen_(American_magazine)). In 1956 he photographed [Elvis](/source/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](/source/Harper's_Bazaar)* where he featured [Richard Avedon](/source/Richard_Avedon), along with artists such as [Diane Arbus](/source/Diane_Arbus), [Robert Frank](/source/Robert_Frank), [Lee Friedlander](/source/Lee_Friedlander), [Larry Rivers](/source/Larry_Rivers), [Andy Warhol](/source/Andy_Warhol) and established masters such as [Henri Cartier-Bresson](/source/Henri_Cartier-Bresson) and [Walker Evans](/source/Walker_Evans).[4] From 1957 to 1963 he worked as a freelance art director for [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records), with occasional engagements thereafter.[5] In 1963 he taught painting and design in New York City at [Parsons School of Design](/source/Parsons_School_of_Design), [Cooper Union](/source/Cooper_Union) and at the [Rhode Island School of Design](/source/Rhode_Island_School_of_Design)[6] 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](/source/Mademoiselle_(magazine)). In 1970, he designed [Richard Avedon](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Lisette_Model), [Mary Frank](/source/Mary_Frank), [Peter Beard](/source/Peter_Beard), [Saul Leiter](/source/Saul_Leiter) and [Garry Winogrand](/source/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](/source/Richard_Avedon)'s exhibition, "In the American West," Israel had a [heart attack](/source/Myocardial_infarction) 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 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Marvin Israel - Artist, Art - Marvin Israel](https://www.askart.com/askart/i/marvin_israel/marvin_israel.aspx) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Glueck, Grace (2005-07-29). ["Art in Review; Marvin Israel"](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/29/arts/art-in-review-marvin-israel.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2023-02-24. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** poster of exhibition archives galerie Suzanne Michel 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Doon Arbus; Elizabeth Sussman (2011). [*Diane Arbus: Chronology*](https://web.archive.org/web/20120517073023/http://www.aperture.org/books/books-new/arbus-chronology.html). New York: Aperture Foundation. p. 157. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-59711-179-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-59711-179-9). Archived from [the original](http://www.aperture.org/books/books-new/arbus-chronology.html) on 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-04-14. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** For example, credited with the cover design of *[Do It Now!](/source/Do_It_Now!_(Jack_McDuff_album))*, an album by [Brother Jack McDuff](/source/Brother_Jack_McDuff), released by Atlantic Records in 1967. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Marvin Israel Is Dead at 61; An Art Director and Painter"](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DA1138F93BA35756C0A962948260). *The New York Times*. May 8, 1984. ## External links - [Marvin Israel biography at Ask Art](https://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/search/Search_Repeat.aspx?searchtype=IMAGES&artist=86718) - [Examples of Marvin Israel's work](https://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/search/Search_Repeat.aspx?searchtype=IMAGES&artist=86718) - [Going where I've Never Been: The Photography of Diane Arbus](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1280673) - [Who is Marvin Israel](https://web.archive.org/web/20110725165347/http://reframecollection.org/films/film?Id=1619) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Italy Czech Republic Netherlands Norway Israel Academics CiNii Artists ULAN MusicBrainz RKD Artists Museum of Modern Art Photographers' Identities Grammy Awards Other IdRef SNAC Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Marvin Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Israel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Israel?action=history)). 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