Irving Norman Art
American, Lithuanian, 1906-1989
The Lithuanian-American artist Irving Norman was a social Surrealist who painted large-scale and highly detailed critiques of contemporary life with hopes that viewers would consider the consequences of their actions and change their behavior.
Influenced by the dire conditions of the Great Depression, Norman’s massive canvases feature armies of clone-like figures behaving in the clockwork manner in which they have been programmed. He moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1934 before helping to defend the Spanish Republic from the fascist Franco dictatorship.
Norman survived the Spanish Civil War and in 1939 settled on Catalina Island off the Southern California coast, where he began drawing and painting from the atrocities he had witnessed. In 1940, he moved to San Francisco and had a solo exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Art two years later. Norman then traveled to Mexico City and saw the murals of Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros before moving to New York City to study at the Art Students League from 1946 to 1947. He returned to San Francisco in the late 1940s. In 1988, fire destroyed Norman’s home, studio, artwork and personal papers.
Find original Irving Norman paintings and prints on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Heather James Fine Art)
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Artist: Irving Norman
Big City
By Irving Norman
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A painting by Irving Norman. "Big City" is a social surrealism city scape, watercolor on paper in a dark palette of reds, blues, and yellows by artist Irving ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Post-War Irving Norman Art
Materials
Watercolor
American Street Scene
By Irving Norman
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A painting by Irving Norman. "American Street Scene" is a macabre social surrealism city scape, oil on canvas in a bold palette of reds, blues, and yellows by artist Irving Norman. T...
Category
Mid-20th Century Post-War Irving Norman Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Bacchanal
By Irving Norman
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A painting by Irving Norman. "Bacchanal" is a macabre social surrealism painting, oil on canvas in a dark palette of reds, blues, and blacks by artist Irving Norman. The artwork is u...
Category
Mid-20th Century Post-War Irving Norman Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
My World and Yours
By Irving Norman
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A drawing by Irving Norman. "My World and Yours" is a macabre social surrealism city scape, graphite on paper in a black and white palette by artist Irving No...
Category
Mid-20th Century Post-War Irving Norman Art
Materials
Graphite
Striptease
By Irving Norman
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A drawing by Irving Norman. "Striptease" is a macabre cultural commentary drawing, pencil and color pencil on paper executed in a dark palette of blacks, grays, and reds by social su...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Irving Norman Art
Materials
Color Pencil, Pencil
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Irving Norman art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Irving Norman art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Irving Norman in paint, oil paint, canvas and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the post-war style. Not every interior allows for large Irving Norman art, so small editions measuring 14 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Nathan Oliveira, Paul Wonner, and Abraham Straski. Irving Norman art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,400 and tops out at $800,000, while the average work can sell for $150,000.