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Ben-Zion (artist)

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Russian-born American artist
Ben-Zion
בןציון‎
Ben-Zion (1915)
Born(1897-07-08)July 8, 1897
Starokostiantyniv, Russian Empire
DiedJanuary 23, 1987(1987-01-23) (aged 89)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Other namesBen-Zion Weinman, Benzion Weinman, Ben-Tsiyon Ṿainman, Ben-Tsiyon, Bentsion Veinman
Occupation(s)painter, printmaker, educator, sculptor, poet
Years active1914–1970s
MovementExpressionism
SpouseLillian Dubin (m. 1949–1987; death)

Ben-Zion, also known as Ben-Zion Weinman (July 8, 1897 – January 23, 1987) was a Russian-born American painter, printmaker, sculptor, educator, and poet. He was a member of "The Ten" group of expressionist artists.

Early life

Ben-Zion was born on July 8, 1897, in Starokostiantyniv, Russian Empire (present-day is Ukraine). His father, Hirsch Weinman was a Jewish cantor, and initially he wanted to enter the rabbinate. In 1909, the family moved to Galicia. At age 17, he travelled to Vienna to study art. He had been rejected from entering the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna due to antisemitism. Early in his career, he wrote fairy tales and poems in Hebrew under the name "Benzion Weinman".

Career

He immigrated to the United States in 1920 after the death of his father, and started by teaching Hebrew language. When he started painting he dropped his last name and started hyphenating. His first large scale painting was Friday Evening (1933), depicting his family's Sabbath dinner table. Starting in 1935, many of his paintings were expressionist versions of reinterpreted biblical scenes. His first solo exhibition was in 1936 at the Artists' Gallery in New York City. His early artwork was primarily done in oil paint, watercolors, and intaglio printmaking. He was largely a self-taught artist.

From 1936 until 1942, he was a founding member of "The Ten" expressionist artist group, which also included the artists Mark Rothko, Louis Harris (artist) [Wikidata], Adolph Gottlieb, Ralph Rosenborg, Louis Schanker, Joseph Solman, Nahum Tschacbasov, and Ilya Bolotowsky. The mission of the art group was, "to protest against the reputed equivalence of American painting and literal painting."

From the 1930s to the 1960s, Ben-Zion taught art (through the Works Progress Administration) at Cooper Union and other locations.

In the 1950s, he began working in welded iron sculptures. In 1959, the Jewish Museum in New York City held a retrospective exhibition of his work.

Death and legacy

Ben-Zion died on January 23, 1987, in New York City. He was survived by his wife Lillian (née Dubin).

Ben-Zion's works are in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Israeli National Maritime Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Phillips Collection, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the Print Collection at the New York Public Library.

Publications

  • Jick, Millicent. (1986). Ben-Zion: A Tradition of Independence. Berkeley, Calif. : Judah L. Magnes Museum.
  • Soltes, Ori Z., ed. (1997), Ben-Zion: In Search of Oneself, B'nai B'rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum
  • Weinman, Ben-Zion (1985). Dubin, Lillian; Shalem, Tabita (eds.). Ben-Zion Iron Sculpture. Alpine Fine Arts Collection. ISBN 978-0881681246.
  • Weinman, Ben-Zion (1950). Biblical Themes (etching/print portfolio). Roger Lacourière (printmaker). New York City, New York: Curt Valentin Gallery.
  • Weinman, Ben-Zion. (1959). Ben-Zion, 1933-1959: A Retrospect. Commentary by Stephen S. Kayser. New York City, New York: The Jewish Museum.

References

  1. ^ Phares, Marty (9 July 1955). "Individuality of Expression Is Encouraged By Noted Artist". Newspapers.com. Muncie Evening Press. p. 14. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  2. ^ "Ben-Zion, a Writer, Painter And Sculptor, Is Dead at 90". The New York Times. 1987-01-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  3. ^ "Ben-Zion". Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM). Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  4. ^ "Ben-Zion". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  5. "Oral history interview with Ben-Zion interview, 1982 August 3-September 21". Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26.
  6. ^ "Ben-Zion: In Search of Oneself". POBA. James Kirk Bernard Foundation. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  7. ^ "Ben-Zion". POBA. James Kirk Bernard Foundation. Archived from the original on 2014-11-18. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  8. Breslin, James. E. B. (1993). Mark Rothko: A Biography. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 101–106. ISBN 9780226074054.
  9. "Ben-Zion". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  10. "Artists/Makers: Ben-Zion". The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Archived from the original on 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  11. "Artist Info: Ben-Zion". National Gallery of Art (NGA). Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  12. "Ben-Zion". whitney.org. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  13. "Ben-Zion". PhillipsCollection.org. Archived from the original on 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  14. "Result". Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden | Smithsonian. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  15. "Ben-Zion (American, 1897-1987) (Printmaker)". The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs. New York Public Library. Archived from the original on 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-07-27.

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