Sasson Soffer
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Sasson Soffer | |
|---|---|
 Photo of Sasson Soffer in his New York studio, 1970s | |
| Born | 1925 (specific date not recorded) |
| Died | October 17, 2009 |
| Education | Brooklyn College |
| Known for | Sculpture, painting |
| Notable work | "East Gate/West Gate" (1973) |
| Movement | Abstract Expressionism, public art |
| Awards | National Endowment for the Arts Grant Whitney Museum Purchase Award Ford Foundation Visiting Artist Award |
Sasson Soffer (1925–2009) was an American abstract painter and sculptor. His work has been exhibited extensively throughout the world.
Soffer was born in Baghdad. His father was a scribe, and Soffer spent a good part of his childhood drawing in his father’s studio. With the outbreak of the Arab-Israeli war in 1948 and the growing anti-Semitism in Iraq, Soffer went into hiding, finally escaping to Iran, then to the United States via Israel.[1]
Between 1950 and 1954 Soffer was enrolled at Brooklyn College in New York. There he studied under artists including Ad Reinhardt, Burgoyne Diller and Mark Rothko. Rothko would be a lifelong friend and mentor, supporting Soffer throughout his career.[2]
Early work
Soffer dedicated the early part of his career to abstract painting. Influences from European artists like Paul Klee and Miró, as well as from his Brooklyn College instructors, are evident in the works produced during this period (the ‘50s and ‘60s). These paintings juxtapose dark shades with luminosity and a gentler, more refined European pictorial vocabulary.
Soffer had his first solo exhibition in 1958 at the Artist’s Gallery in New York City. He was featured in Art in America’s New Talent Issue in 1962.[3] His works were also exhibited at the Betty Parson’s Gallery, Poindexter Gallery, and other galleries.
