# Simon Dinnerstein

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**Simon Dinnerstein** (born February 16, 1943) is an American artist, best known for the painted work, *The Fulbright Triptych* (1971).

## Early life and education

Dinnerstein was born in [Brownsville](/source/Brownsville,_Brooklyn), [Brooklyn](/source/Brooklyn), New York, in 1943 to pharmacist Louis and homemaker Sarah Dinnerstein. One of two children, his older brother [Harvey Dinnerstein](/source/Harvey_Dinnerstein) was also an artist.[1]

Dinnerstein holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the [City College of New York](/source/City_College_of_New_York). He studied painting and drawing at the [Brooklyn Museum Art School](/source/Brooklyn_Museum_Art_School) with [Louis Grebenak](/source/Louis_Grebenak), [David Levine](/source/David_Levine), and [Richard Mayhew](/source/Richard_Mayhew).[2][3]

## Career

He was a member of the faculty at the [New School for Social Research](/source/New_School_for_Social_Research), [Parsons School of Design](/source/Parsons_School_of_Design), and [New York City Technical College](/source/New_York_City_Technical_College). He lectures widely and has lectured at [Pennsylvania State University](/source/Pennsylvania_State_University).[4]

### *The Fulbright Triptych*

Dinnerstein's most notable painting, *The Fulbright Triptych*, was started in Germany in 1971[5] while he served as a [Fulbright Scholar](/source/Fulbright_Scholar) in Graphics. It was completed in 1974.[6] A largely autobiographical work,[7] it combines stark realism[8] with American figurative tradition to produce a secular rendering of the usually religious form, the [triptych](/source/Triptych).

Writer [Jonathan Lethem](/source/Jonathan_Lethem) commented: "Simon Dinnerstein's *The Fulbright Triptych* is one of those singular and astonishing works of art which seem to imply a description of the whole world merely by insisting on a scrupulous gaze at one perfect instant."[9] The oil-on-wood painting consists of three panels approximately 14 feet wide, depicting a graphic artist's studio.[10] Three figures, representing the Dinnerstein family, occupy the outer panels. The central panel consists of the artist's desk, engraving tools, a copper disk of the commissioned Fulbright engraving project, and an outward view in perspective of Hessisch Lichtenau (near to [Kassel](/source/Kassel)).[5][11] Plants, photographs, old master's paintings, children's grade school writing, and an exit visa from Russia, appear tacked to the wall of the studio.[12][5][7][13] The *Triptych* is noted for its symmetry, meticulous detail,[8] mixture of textures, and sense of space.

Widely praised, with each viewer bringing a different sensibility and interpretation of the work, the painting is the subject of numerous essays, articles, and books, including *The Suspension of Time: Reflections of Simon Dinnerstein's 'The Fulbright Triptych'* edited by Daniel Slager, published 2011.

### Style and influences

Dinnerstein's art is mostly in the [figurative](/source/Figurative_art) style,[14] with [folk](/source/Folk_art), [expressionistic](/source/Expressionistic), and [surrealistic](/source/Surrealistic) influences,[8][12][15] possessing a "[narrative](/source/Narrative)"[8] and "[psychological](/source/Psychological) edge".[16] He uses a variety of media, [pencils](/source/Pencil), [charcoal](/source/Charcoal), and [oil paints](/source/Oil_paint). Dinnerstein renders [still-lifes](/source/Still-life), but most of his work involves [portraiture](/source/Portrait_painting) or [human figures](/source/Human_figure). He often "paints the figure in unexpected juxtaposition with [landscape](/source/Landscape) or interior elements",[2] of which Dinnerstein says,

What interests me is the ability of [Degas](/source/Degas), [Balthus](/source/Balthus), [Lucian Freud](/source/Lucian_Freud) and [Antonio López García](/source/Antonio_L%C3%B3pez_Garc%C3%ADa) ... to deal with the figure ... to create art ... rich in scale, yet abstract adventurous, experimental ... deeply human ... a combination of modernism and tradition of skill medium and ... a fresh, personal response to the human form in art ... Hopefully my work speaks to these issues.[2]

Often the human figures are portrayed against a background of [hyperreality](/source/Hyperreality),[12] or in dreamy surreal landscapes.[9] Light plays an important role in Dinnerstein's work achieving "an inwardness ... in the play of light that radiates from the object and renders it mysterious"[17] or makes "Brooklyn sunlight on an ordinary floor seem supernatural."[18] The use of light contributes to Dinnerstein's paintings being described as "[magical realism](/source/Magical_realism)".[19] In early Dinnerstein works, strong left-right symmetry prevails, although later works are noted for their asymmetry.[18] Dinnerstein draws on diverse sources for inspiration: Northern European art ([Albrecht Dürer](/source/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer), [Hieronymus Bosch](/source/Hieronymus_Bosch)[15][6]), Mexican art ([Frida Kahlo](/source/Frida_Kahlo), [Diego Rivera](/source/Diego_Rivera)[18][20]), as well as literature ([D. H. Lawrence](/source/D._H._Lawrence), [August Strindberg](/source/August_Strindberg)[5][7]) and film ([Ingmar Bergman](/source/Ingmar_Bergman), [Alfred Hitchcock](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock)[17][7]).

## Personal life

In 1965, Dinnerstein married Renée Sudler, a noted educational consultant.[4] Renée Dinnerstein is the author of the book *Choice Time: How to Deepen Learning Through Inquiry and Play, PreK-2* published in August 2016.[21] She runs the popular blog, Investigating Choice Time: Inquiry, Exploration and Play.[22] They have a daughter, [Simone Dinnerstein](/source/Simone_Dinnerstein), a concert pianist. Both wife and daughter (as an infant) figure prominently in *The Fulbright Triptych* as well as other works.

Dinnerstein resides in Brooklyn, where, in addition to practicing his art, he teaches classes on art history and appreciation.[4]

## Videos and podcasts

- Simone Dinnerstein and Simon Dinnerstein In Conversation: An Interview with [Robin Quivers](/source/Robin_Quivers) at Consulate General of Germany, 2011[23]
- Triptych: An Evening of Painting and Music (Simon Dinnerstein, *The Fulbright Triptych* and [Robert Sirota](/source/Robert_Sirota), "Triptych", performed by the Chiara String Quartet)[24]
- Simon Dinnerstein Exhibit at the Tenri Gallery: A Walk Through with [Francis Cunningham](/source/Francis_Cunningham_(painter)), 2011[25]
- Simon Dinnerstein and *The Fulbright Triptych*, audiocast interview with James McElhinney, *[Huffington Post](/source/Huffington_Post)*, April 1, 2013[26]
- “Simone Dinnerstein and Simon Dinnerstein: A Conversation on the Mysteries of Art and Family, 2018[27]

## List of awards

- Scholarship, [Brooklyn Museum Art School](/source/Brooklyn_Museum_Art_School) (BMAS), 1964–67
- First Prize, BMAS, 1967
- Purchase Award, DRAWINGS USA, [Minnesota Museum of American Art](/source/Minnesota_Museum_of_American_Art), 1968
- [MacDowell Colony Fellowship](/source/MacDowell_(artists'_residency_and_workshop)), 1969
- [Fulbright Fellowship](/source/Fulbright_Program), Germany, in Graphics, 1970–71
- Honorable Mention, Edwin Austin Abbey Fellowship for Mural Painting, [National Academy of Design](/source/National_Academy_of_Design), New York, 1975
- Purchase Award, DRAWINGS USA, MMAA, 1975
- Childe Hassam Purchase Award for Painting, [American Academy of Arts and Letters](/source/American_Academy_of_Arts_and_Letters), 1976
- [Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation](/source/The_Louis_Comfort_Tiffany_Foundation) Grant, 1976
- E.D. Foundation Grant for study at the [American Academy in Rome](/source/American_Academy_in_Rome), 1977
- [Rome Prize](/source/Rome_Prize) Fellowship, American Academy in Rome, 1976–78 (Lazarus Fellow, [Metropolitan Museum of Art](/source/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art))
- Ingram Merrill Award for Painting, [Ingram Merrill Foundation](/source/Ingram_Merrill_Foundation), 1978–79
- E.D. Foundation Grant, for study at the American Academy in Rome, 1978
- Childe Hassam Purchase Award for Painting, American Academy of Arts and Letters, 1978
- MacDowell Colony Fellowship, 1979
- [Artists Space](/source/Artists_Space) Grant, New York, 1983
- Stefan Hirsch Memorial Award, Audubon Artists, New York, 1984
- Artists Space Grant, New York, 1985
- [New York Foundation for the Arts](/source/New_York_Foundation_for_the_Arts) Fellowship in Drawing, 1987
- Artists Space Grant, New York, 1987
- Cannon Prize, 163rd Annual Exhibition, National Academy of Design, New York, 1988
- Elected Member, National Academy of Design, New York, 1992
- Ralph Fabri Prize for a graphic, 172nd Annual Exhibition, National Academy of Design, New York, 1997
- Paul and Margaret Bertelson Prize for a portrait in any medium, 173rd Annual Exhibition, National Academy of Design, New York, 1998
- Robert Lehman Foundation Grant, 1999–2000
- [Puffin Foundation](/source/Puffin_Foundation) Grant, 2011

## Exhibitions

- 1975 - Staempfli Gallery, New York
- 1976–1977 - *The Fulbright Triptych*, [Institute of International Education](/source/Institute_of_International_Education), New York
- 1977 - American Academy in Rome, Italy
- 1979 - Institute of International Education, New York; Staempfli Gallery, New York
- 1981 - [The New School for Social Research](/source/The_New_School_for_Social_Research), New York
- 1985 - Gallery 1199, The Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Center, New York
- 1987 - [Pratt Institute](/source/Pratt_Institute), Brooklyn, New York
- 1988 - Staempfli Gallery, New York
- 1991 - [Saint Paul's School](/source/St._Paul's_School_(New_Hampshire)), Hargate Center, Concord, New Hampshire
- 1993 - New School for Social Research, New York
- 1999–2000 - [Walton Arts Center](/source/Walton_Arts_Center), Joy Pratt Markham Gallery, Fayetteville, Arkansas
- 2000 - Harnett Museum of Art, [University of Richmond](/source/University_of_Richmond), Virginia
- 2000 - Texarkana Regional Arts Center, Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas
- 1999 - Saint Peter's Church, New York (Retrospective Exhibition, *The Fulbright Triptych* and Flower Market, Rome)
- 1999 - Bread and Roses Gallery, The Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Center, NY
- 1999 - ACA Galleries, New York, Recent Paintings and Drawings
- 2006 - Simon Dinnerstein, Open Studio: The Palette Paintings, Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York
- 2008 - Simon Dinnerstein: One-Man Exhibit, Rainbow Room, New York
- 2010 - Simon Dinnerstein – Giclee Prints, Loupe Digital Studio
- 2010 - Simon Dinnerstein-Giclee Prints, Open Studio, Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York
- 2011 - *The Fulbright Triptych* and Selected Paintings, Tenri Gallery, New York
- 2011–2014 - *The Fulbright Triptych*, German Consulate of New York, on extended loan from the [Palmer Museum of Art](/source/Palmer_Museum_of_Art) at [Pennsylvania State University](/source/Pennsylvania_State_University)
- 2014–2015 - *The Fubright Triptych*, [University of Arkansas School of Law](/source/University_of_Arkansas_School_of_Law), Fayetteville, Arkansas, on extended loan from the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn. State University
- 2017 - The Lasting World: Simon Dinnerstein and *The Fulbright Triptych*, [Museum of Art and Archaeology](/source/Museum_of_Art_and_Archaeology) at the [University of Missouri](/source/University_of_Missouri), Columbia, Missouri
- 2018 - The Lasting World: Simon Dinnerstein and *The Fulbright Triptych*, [Arnot Art Museum](/source/Arnot_Art_Museum), Elmira, New York

## Articles and reviews

- [Michael Andre](/source/Michael_Andre), Simon Dinnerstein (Staempfli), Art News, March, 1975
- [John Gruen](/source/John_Gruen), "On Art: Freilicher, Fish, Dinnerstein, Peterson, Baber", *[SoHo Weekly News](/source/SoHo_Weekly_News)*, February 6, 1975
- George Staempfli, catalog essay, one-man exhibit, Staempfli Gallery, January 14 – February 8, 1975
- Bennett Schiff, On a Roman Hill Scholars Dwell in an Estate Of Mind, Smithsonian, March, 1978
- Doug Turetsky, Simon Dinnerstein: Artist in the Round, Brooklyn Affairs, April, 1985
- Simon Dinnerstein, Looking At One's Own Artwork, American Artist, April, 1986
- Theodore Wolff, The Kind Word for Such Art is 'Conservative'. The Christian Science Monitor, April 25, 1988
- [Albert Boime](/source/Albert_Boime), Introduction: Simon Dinnerstein's Family Romance, The Art of Simon Dinnerstein, The University of Arkansas Press, 1990
- [Thomas M. Messer](/source/Thomas_M._Messer), Foreword, The Art of Simon Dinnerstein, The University of Arkansas Press, 1990, ISBN 978-1557281425
- Richard Mertens, Essential Realities: Simon Dinnerstein Draws the Essence of Art from the Commonplace, The Concord Monitor, October 25, 1991
- [Rudolph Arnheim](/source/Rudolph_Arnheim), Pictures of the Lasting World, Simon Dinnerstein: Paintings and Drawings, Hudson Hills Press, (October 12, 1999) ISBN 978-0965048545
- Deborah McLeod, From Visceral Portraits to Romanticized Nymphs, Bodies of Work, Richmond Times, September 1, 2000
- Edward Sullivan, The Urban View in the Art of Simon Dinnerstein, Simon Dinnerstein: Paintings and Drawings, Hudson Hills Press, 2000
- Roy Proctor, Exploring the Edge: No Slave to fashion, artist draws us into other states of mind, Richmond Times-Dispatch, August 20, 2000
- Joe Maniscalco, An Artist at Work: Park Slope Painter Lets You in on the Creative Process, Park Slope Courier, January 31, 2000
- Ilana Abramovitch, From Brownsville to Park Slope: An Interview with Simon Dinnerstein, Jews of Brooklyn, Brandeis University Press; 1st edition (November 1, 2001) ISBN 978-1584650034
- [Gabriela Lena Frank](/source/Gabriela_Lena_Frank), Ghosts in the Dream Machine for Piano Quintet, (Composer's Statement), March 14, 2005 [Composer's Statement](http://www.simondinnerstein.com/articles.html)
- Cynthia Maris Dantzic 100 New York Painters Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., (November 2006) ISBN 978-0764325434, page 85
- Elana Hagler, Pursuing Humanity: An Interview with Simon Dinnerstein, April 21, 2013 [Pursuing Humanity:An Interview with Simon Dinnerstein](http://paintingperceptions.com/contemporary-realism/pursuing-humanity-an-interview-with-simon-dinnerstein)
- Featuring: Simon Dinnerstein, *Colored Pencil* magazine, December 2014[28]

## Books

- *The Art of Simon Dinnerstein*, The University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, London, 1990. Essays by Albert Boime, Thomas M. Messer, George Tooker.
- *Simon Dinnerstein: Paintings and Drawings*, Hudson Hills Press, New York, 1999. Essays by Rudolf Arnheim, Guy Davenport, Robert L. McGrath, John Russell, Edward J. Sullivan, Miller Willams.
- *The Suspension of Time: Reflections on Simon Dinnerstein and 'The Fulbright Triptych'*, Daniel Slager (Editor), Publisher: Milkweed Editions; First Edition (June 14, 2011). Forty-five essays on The Fulbright Triptych.

## References

1. ["Simon and Simone Dinnerstein in Conversation: An Interview with Robin Quivers at the German Consulate of New York"](http://vimeo.com/37105837). 20 February 2012.

1. Dantzic, Cynthia Maris (November 2006). *100 New York Painters*. Schiffer Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 978-0764325434.

1. Micchelli, Thomas (2019-05-11). ["Encountering "The Fulbright Triptych""](https://hyperallergic.com/499804/simon-dinnerstein-revisiting-the-fulbright-triptych-visual-arts-center-of-new-jersey/). *Hyperallergic*. Retrieved 2020-11-09.

1. ["Chronology of Simon Dinnerstein"](http://www.simondinnerstein.com/chronology.html). Retrieved 17 May 2014.

1. Dinnerstein, Simon (April 1986). "Looking At One's Own Artwork". *American Artist*

1. ["Triptych: An Evening of Painting and Music: Simon Dinnerstein & Robert Sirota"](http://vimeo.com/92970548). 25 April 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.

1. Boime, Albert (November 1990). *The Art of Simon Dinnerstein*. The University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 978-1557281425.

1. Messer, Thomas M. (November 1990). *The Art of Simon Dinnerstein*. Foreword: The University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 978-1557281425.

1. Slager, Daniel (ed.) (June 14, 2011). *The Suspension of Time: Reflections on Simon Dinnerstein and The Fulbright Triptych*. Milkweed Editions. ISBN 978-1571313263.

1. Dinnerstein, Simon. ["*The Fulbright Triptych*"](http://www.simondinnerstein.com/the_fulbright_triptych.html). Retrieved 17 May 2014.

1. Russell, John (February 8, 1975). "In Dinnerstein's Painting, An Echo Chamber". *The New York Times*

1. Smith, Roberta (August 11, 2011). ["Rediscovered at the Altar of Art"](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/arts/design/simon-dinnerstein-the-fulbright-triptych-review.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 17 May 2014.

1. André, Michael (March 1975). "Simon Dinnerstein (Staempfli)". *Art News*

1. Mertens, Richard (October 25, 1991). "Essential Realities: Simon Dinnerstein Draws the Essence of Art from the Commonplace". *The Concord Monitor*

1. Hagler, Elana (21 April 2013). ["Pursuing Humanity: An Interview with Simon Dinnerstein"](http://paintingperceptions.com/contemporary-realism/pursuing-humanity-an-interview-with-simon-dinnerstein). Painting Perceptions. Retrieved 18 May 2014.

1. Proctor, Roy (August 20, 2000). "Exploring the Edge: No Slave to Fashion, Artist Draws Us Into Other States of Mind". *Richmond Times-Dispatch*

1. Abramovitch, Ilana (2002). *Jews of Brooklyn*. Brandeis University Press. p. 169. ISBN 978-1584650034.

1. Davenport, Guy, essayist (2000). *The Art of Simon Dinnerstein, Simon Dinnerstein: Paintings and Drawings*. Hudson Hills Press. ISBN 0965048543.

1. Arnheim, Rudolph, essayist (2000). *Simon Dinnerstein: Painting and Drawing*. Hudson Hills Press.

1. McLeod, Deborah (September 1, 2000). ["Bodies of Work: From Visceral Portraits to Romanticized Nymphs, Simon Dinnerstein's Retrospective at the Marsh Gallery Shows a Stylistic Niche through Every Turn of the Artist's Evolution"](http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/from-visceral-portraits-to-romanticized-nymphs-simon-dinnersteins-retrospective-at-the-marsh-gallery-shows-a-stylistic-niche-through-every/Content?oid=1386808). *Richmond Style Weekly*. Retrieved 17 May 2014.

1. ["Author Bio: Renee Dinnerstein"](http://www.heinemann.com/authors/100093.aspx). Heinemann Publishing, of Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt. Retrieved 10 September 2016.

1. ["About Renée Dinnerstein"](http://investigatingchoicetime.com/about/). Investigating Choice Time: Inquiry, Exploration, and Play. September 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2014.

1. ["• Simone Dinnerstein • Simon Dinnerstein • In Conversation on Vimeo"](http://vimeo.com/37105837). 20 February 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

1. ["Triptych: An Evening of Painting and Music: Simon Dinnerstein & Robert Sirota"](https://vimeo.com/92970548). 25 April 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

1. [Simon Dinnerstein](https://www.youtube.com/eukDmYhfYI8) on YouTube

1. ["Simon Dinnerstein"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131117211317/http://www.nccsc.net/webcasts/audiocasts/simon-dinnerstein). Archived from [the original](http://www.nccsc.net/webcasts/audiocasts/simon-dinnerstein) on November 17, 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2016.

1. ["Simone Dinnerstein and Simon Dinnerstein: A Conversation on the Mysteries of Art and Family"](https://vimeo.com/287757634). *Vimeo*. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.

1. [simondinnerstein.com/email/cpm1412_02.pdf "Simon Dinnerstain"](http://simondinnerstein.com/email/cpm1412_02.pdf), *Colored pencil*, December 2014

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.simondinnerstein.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Simon Dinnerstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Dinnerstein) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Dinnerstein?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.