Ben-Zion (artist)

Ben-Zion, also known as Ben-Zion Weinman (1897–1987)[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(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[1]
SpouseLillian Dubin (m. 1949–1987; death)
Parent
  • Hirsch Weinman (father)

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.

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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