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Isaiah Zagar Art

American, b. 1939
Isaiah Zagar is an award-winning mosaic mural artist whose work can be found on more than 200 public walls throughout the city of Philadelphia and around the world. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Brooklyn, Zagar received his B.F.A. in Painting & Graphics at the Pratt Institute of Art in New York City. When he was 19 years old, Zagar discovered the folk art installations of Clarence Schmidt in Woodstock, New York. Influenced by Schmidt, Picasso, Jean Debuffet, Kurt Schwitters, Antonio Gaudi, Simon Rodia and Joseph Ferdinand Cheval, he was inspired to include the concepts of untrained artists as manifestations of fine art. Zagar’s artwork is heavily influenced by his travels and the personal connections he has made with international folk and visionary artists. Isaiah and his wife Julia completed three years of Peace Corps service in Peru in the mid-1960s, working with folk artists in the Puno region near Lake Titicaca. Soon after, they settled in Philadelphia and began their lifelong work of creating public art and fostering creativity in all its varied forms. In addition to his three-year Peace Corps service in Peru, Isaiah has completed artist residencies in Tianjin, China, and Rajasthan, India. He also participated in a residency at the Kohler Co. Pottery Foundry in Wisconsin. Zagar’s work is included in the permanent collections of numerous art institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and has been featured in solo exhibitions throughout the Philadelphia area. Zagar has received grants for his artistic excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pew Charitable Trusts for his work in Interdisciplinary Arts. Isaiah Zagar has gained recognition in various films and publications, most notably in the 2008 documentary, In A Dream, created by his son, Jeremiah Zagar. He has spoken at several prominent conferences and artists’ lectures both domestically and internationally. Through 40+ years of creating artwork on a grand, public scale, Zagar has helped shape Philadelphia into a thriving creative community.
(Biography provided by Paradigm Gallery + Studio)
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"Sexual Self" Woodcut Relief, Mirror and Glass Mosaic
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Sexual Self" is an original mosaic by Isaiah Zagar measuring 17in x 29in. This piece ships in the pictured wooden frame. Isaiah Zagar is an award-winning mosaic mural artist who...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

Materials

Clay, Woodcut, Mirror, Mixed Media, Mosaic

Become A Phenomenon
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original fabric work by Isaiah Zagar created in collaboration with Gubercindo Tella in LaPaz, Bolivia in 1985. The piece measures 47”h x 34”w. Isaiah Zagar is an award-w...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Isaiah Zagar Art

Materials

Fabric

"Angry Chinese Painter Series II" Ink on Xuan paper
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. This piece is part of h...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper

"Angry Chinese Painter XII" Ink on Xuan paper
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. This piece is part of h...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper

"Angry Chinese Painter Series I" Ink on Xuan paper
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. This piece is part of ...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper

The Artist As Star
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original fabric work by Isaiah Zagar created in collaboration with Gubercindo Tella in LaPaz, Bolivia in 1985. The piece measures 47”h x 34”w. Isaiah Zagar is an award-w...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

Materials

Fabric

Mythic Overtones
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original fabric work by Isaiah Zagar created in collaboration with Gubercindo Tella in LaPaz, Bolivia in 1985. The piece measures 47”h x 34”w. Isaiah Zagar is an award-w...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Isaiah Zagar Art

Materials

Fabric

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There he won first prize for the design of the front cover of the Communication Corps bulletin. With his discharge from the army at 29 he started studying drawing and graphics at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. Among his teachers were Isidor Ascheim, Shlomo Vitkin, Yossi Stern and Jacob Steinhardt. At the end of his first year of study, Kopel won the Reuben and Sarah Lif Excellence Award in written studies. During his studies he also won additional prizes: In 1956 he won first prize from the Lethem Foundation in California for poster design. Later the same year, Kopel won the Hermann Struck prize for his drawing on the theme of Jerusalem. In 1957 he won an additional first prize from the Lethem Foundation and second place from the printing company Ortzel for a drawing for a Jewish New Year greeting card. In 1958 he won first prize in a competition to design a poster for Tel Aviv's jubilee. 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Exhibitions: 1995 The Knesset Jerusalem 1988 Temple Beth Shalom Miami, Florida 1988 University of Jewish Studies Los Angeles 1987 Israel Congregation on the Northern Coast Chicago 1985 Jerusalem Theatre Jerusalem 1984 Tenafly New Jersey 1983 Horace Richter Gallery Old Jaffa 1974 Jerusalem Theatre Jerusalem 1974 Delson Richter Gallery Old Jaffa 1972 University of Jewish Studies Miami, Florida 1971 Jewish Museum New York 1970 Norman Gallery Canada 1970 Sharei Tzedek Congregation Winnipeg, Canada 1970 Gallery of the Year Los Angeles 1970 Gallery of the Year Scottsdale 1969 Gleeman Gallery Chicago 1969 Israel Congregation of the Northern Coast Chicago 1967 Maskit 6 Tel Aviv Prizes: 1971 First Independence Day poster 1971, 23 yeaes of the State of Israel 1969 Second International Tel Aviv poster...
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Anthozoa Blanca
Anthozoa Blanca
H 5 in W 5 in D 5 in
Previously Available Items
Life
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Life" is an original mosaic by Isaiah Zagar measuring 29in x 17in. This piece ships in the pictured wooden frame. Isaiah Zagar is an award-winning mosaic mural artist whose work...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

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Clay, Mirror, Mixed Media, Mosaic

Life
Life
H 29 in W 17 in
Sampler I
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Sampler I" is an original mosaic by Isaiah Zagar measuring 29in x 17in. This piece ships in the pictured wooden frame. Isaiah Zagar is an award-winning mosaic mural artist whose...
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21st Century and Contemporary Folk Art Isaiah Zagar Art

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Clay, Mirror, Mixed Media, Mosaic

Concept Change
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Concept Change" is an original mosaic by Isaiah Zagar measuring 26in x 17in. This piece ships in the pictured wooden frame. Isaiah Zagar is an award-winning mosaic mural artist ...
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Angry Chinese Painter X
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Angry Chinese Painter VI
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Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. Isaiah Zagar is an a...
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20th Century Folk Art Isaiah Zagar Art

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Angry Chinese Painter VII
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. Isaiah Zagar is an a...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

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Angry Chinese Painter XI
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. Isaiah Zagar is an a...
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20th Century Folk Art Isaiah Zagar Art

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Ink, Rice Paper

Angry Chinese Painter XIII
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. Isaiah Zagar is an a...
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20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

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Ink, Rice Paper

Angry Chinese Painter XIV
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. Isaiah Zagar is an a...
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20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

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Don’t Worry Collect Orange Peels
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original fabric work by Isaiah Zagar created in collaboration with Gubercindo Tella in LaPaz, Bolivia in 1985. The piece measures 40”h x 29.5”w. Isaiah Zagar is an award...
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He Lives A Painted Life
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original fabric work by Isaiah Zagar created in collaboration with Gubercindo Tella in LaPaz, Bolivia in 1985. The piece measures 47”h x 34”w. Isaiah Zagar is an award-w...
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Untitled Self-Portrait I
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar is an award-winning mosaic and mural artist whose work can be found on more than 200 public walls throughout the city of Philadelphia and around the world. Born in Phila...
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20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art

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Isaiah Zagar art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Isaiah Zagar art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of orange, pink, purple and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Isaiah Zagar in fabric, handmade paper, ink and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Isaiah Zagar art, so small editions measuring 28 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Tricia Butski, Oliver Hazard, and Ed Templeton. Isaiah Zagar art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,000 and tops out at $1,000, while the average work can sell for $1,000.

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