Larry RiversSky Music Over Carnegie Hall1990
1990
About the Item
- Creator:Larry Rivers (1923 - 2002, American)
- Creation Year:1990
- Dimensions:Height: 58 in (147.32 cm)Width: 40 in (101.6 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU554160212
Larry Rivers
Figurative artist Larry Rivers was born in the Bronx in 1923 to Ukrainian Jewish parents, and was named Yitzak Loiza Grossberg. Rivers belonged to the second generation of the New York School of painters, although unlike most of his contemporaries he stayed away from abstraction instead preferring narrative paintings. He began his artistic career playing the jazz saxophone, and when one night his group was introduced as "Larry Rivers and the Mudcats," he decided to keep the name.
After a brief period in the army during World War II, Rivers attended Juilliard School of Music for one year before returning to the jazz saxophone. After he met the painter Jane Freilicher, he decided to devote himself to painting. Rivers attended Hans Hofmann's school for nearly two years. In 1949, he had his first solo show at the Jane Street Gallery, an artist's co-op in the Village. Rivers received favorable reviews and was invited to join the Tibor de Nagy Gallery uptown.
Rivers continued to show annually at the Tibor de Nagy Gallery from 1952 to 1962. In 1963, he joined the Marlborough Gallery, where he stayed until his death. In 1955, The New York Museum of Modern Art acquired his painting Washington Crossing the Delaware, and in 1956 the Whitney Museum purchased Double Portrait of Berdie, two of his more famous paintings. He had periodic museum shows in Europe and the United States throughout his career.
Rivers had two sons, Joseph and Steven, by his first wife, Augusta. In 1961 he married Clarice Price and had two more children, Gwynne and Emma. In the 1970s he had another son with the painter Daria Deshuk.
The subjects of River's figurative paintings were family, history, politics, religion and sex. His work done in oils often included the use of stencils, cutouts, blank canvas and image reversals. He often painted family members including his mother in law, his sons and his ex-wife. Rivers favored historical subjects such as History of Matzah: The Story of the Jews (1984-85), History of the Russian Revolution (1965) and often painted parodies including his Washington Crossing the Delaware. He enjoyed controversial subjects and shocking the public. Lapman Loves It (1966) is a nine-foot electrified assemblage complete with strategically located light bulbs. French Vocabulary Lesson (1961-62) is a nude with body parts labeled in French.
Rivers was also a writer. In 1979 he published Drawings and Digressions with Carol Brightman. In 1992 he published What Did I Do? The Unauthorized Autobiography with Arnold Weinstein.
Find original Larry Rivers prints and paintings on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Lincoln Glenn)
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Mickey (Blue Glitter) & Minnie (Pink Glitter), Damien HirstBy Damien HirstLocated in New York, NYCreated as a matching pair of images by Damien Hirst in 2016, Mickey and Minnie are two very fun and highly collectible screenprints, each measuring 34 ½ x 27 ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsGlitter, Screen
- International Volunteer DayBy Keith HaringLocated in New York, NYA fun and familiar image created by Keith Haring as an original lithograph in colors in 1988, International Volunteer Day was commissioned by the United Nations on its 40th anniversa...Category
20th Century Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- And Then...WhiteBy Takashi MurakamiLocated in New York, NYThis offset lithograph in colors with cold-stamping was created in 2013. From the hand-signed and numbered edition of 300 measuring 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (50 x 50 cm.), unframed. Avail...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- And Then...(Yellow)By Takashi MurakamiLocated in New York, NYThis iconic lithograph in colors with cold stamping and high gloss varnish was created in 2011 by Takashi Murakami. Hand-signed in ink, numbered and ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Louisiana HeartsBy Jim DineLocated in New York, NYCreated by Jim Dine in 1982 as an original color lithograph on wove paper and published by the Louisiana Museum, Humlebaek, Denmark, Louisiana Hearts is hand-signed, dated and number...Category
20th Century Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Untitled, Jim DineBy Jim DineLocated in New York, NYA familiar and iconic motif by the artist, this color woodcut was created by Jim Dine in 1996, is hand-signed in pencil and numbered. Measuring 26 1/8 x 19 ½ inches (66.4 x 49.5 cm...Category
20th Century Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsWoodcut
- Coca-Cola Girl 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Alex Katz, Swim Suit, Woman, RedBy Alex KatzLocated in Köln, DE"Coca-Cola Girl 2" is one out of Alex Katz's Coca-Cola Girl series. These figures bare witness of his deep engagement with the ideas of advertisment, figurative art and how to come t...Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
- Coca-Cola Girl 8 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Alex Katz, Swim Suit, Woman, RedBy Alex KatzLocated in Köln, DE"Coca-Cola Girl 8" is a very special one out of Alex Katz's Coca-Cola Girl series. These figures bear witness of his deep engagement with the ideas of advertisment, figurative art an...Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
- Coca-Cola Girl 5 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Alex Katz, Swim Suit, Woman, RedBy Alex KatzLocated in Köln, DE"Coca-Cola Girl 5" is part of Alex Katz's Coca-Cola Girl series. These figures bear witness of his deep engagement with the ideas of advertisment, figurative art and how to come to a...Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
- Coca-Cola Girl 3 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Alex Katz, Swim Suit, Woman, RedBy Alex KatzLocated in Köln, DE"Coca-Cola Girl 3" is one out of Alex Katz's Coca-Cola Girl series. These figures bare witness of his deep engagement with the ideas of advertisment, figurative art and how to come t...Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
- Los robachicos y el ladrónLocated in Ciudad De México, MXDe la serie "Valle de Lágrimas" Serigrafía e impresión con tintas pigmentadas sobre papel. Edición de 5 ejemplares firmados y numerados con lápiz al frente de la pieza.Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
- Niños cantandoLocated in Ciudad De México, MXScreen print on paper. Signed and numbered with pencil at the back. This is one of the four pieces from the series "5Km/h".Category
2010s Contemporary More Prints
MaterialsPaper, Screen