Ben-Zion (artist)
Russian-born American artist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ben-Zion, also known as Ben-Zion Weinman (July 8, 1897 – January 23, 1987)[2] was a Russian-born American painter, printmaker, sculptor, educator, and poet. He was a member of "The Ten" group of expressionist artists.[2]
Ben-Zion | |
|---|---|
בןציון | |
Ben-Zion (1915) | |
| Born | July 8, 1897 |
| Died | January 23, 1987 (aged 89) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Ben-Zion Weinman, Benzion Weinman, Ben-Tsiyon Ṿainman, Ben-Tsiyon, Bentsion Veinman |
| Occupations | painter, printmaker, educator, sculptor, poet |
| Years active | 1914–1970s |
| Movement | Expressionism[1] |
| Spouse | Lillian Dubin (m. 1949–1987; death) |
Early life
Ben-Zion was born on July 8, 1897, in Starokostiantyniv, Russian Empire (present-day is Ukraine).[3] His father, Hirsch Weinman was a Jewish cantor, and initially he wanted to enter the rabbinate.[4][5] In 1909, the family moved to Galicia.[6] At age 17, he travelled to Vienna to study art.[4] He had been rejected from entering the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna due to antisemitism.[4] Early in his career, he wrote fairy tales and poems in Hebrew under the name "Benzion Weinman".[2]
Career
He immigrated to the United States in 1920 after the death of his father, and started by teaching Hebrew language.[2][4] When he started painting he dropped his last name and started hyphenating.[2] His first large scale painting was Friday Evening (1933), depicting his family's Sabbath dinner table.[4] Starting in 1935, many of his paintings were expressionist versions of reinterpreted biblical scenes.[1][4] His first solo exhibition was in 1936 at the Artists' Gallery in New York City.[4][7] His early artwork was primarily done in oil paint, watercolors, and intaglio printmaking.[1] He was largely a self-taught artist.[1]
From 1936 until 1942, he was a founding member of "The Ten" expressionist artist group,[7] which also included the artists Mark Rothko, Louis Harris (artist), Adolph Gottlieb, Ralph Rosenborg, Louis Schanker, Joseph Solman, Nahum Tschacbasov, and Ilya Bolotowsky.[2][4] The mission of the art group was, "to protest against the reputed equivalence of American painting and literal painting."[8]
From the 1930s to the 1960s, Ben-Zion taught art (through the Works Progress Administration) at Cooper Union and other locations.[6]
In the 1950s, he began working in welded iron sculptures.[2] In 1959, the Jewish Museum in New York City held a retrospective exhibition of his work.[7]
Death and legacy
Ben-Zion died on January 23, 1987, in New York City.[2] He was survived by his wife Lillian (née Dubin).[2]
Ben-Zion's works are in the Smithsonian American Art Museum,[3] the Metropolitan Museum of Art,[2] the Museum of Modern Art,[2] the Israeli National Maritime Museum,[2] the Art Institute of Chicago,[9] the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art,[10] the National Gallery of Art,[11] the Whitney Museum of American Art,[12] The Phillips Collection,[13] the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden,[14] and the Print Collection at the New York Public Library.[15]
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.
