Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Philomena Marano
Coney Island Tondo, screen print, colorful graphic shooting gallery, shadow box

2019

About the Item

Philomena Marano has spent decades “penetrat[ing] the soul of Coney Island to reveal its twin promises of candy-colored paradise and garishly ornate nightmare,” as Ann Aptaker describes, through the prints and cut-paper collage in her “American Dream-land” series (1979-). These colorful, graphic style works evoke the energy and amusement of Coney Island through depictions of the rides, the boardwalk, clowns, and food vendors. Many are large-scale papier collé installations, a technique Marano learned from Robert Indiana in whose studio she formerly assisted. In conjunction with “American Dream Land,” in 1981 Marano and Richard Eagan co-founded the Coney Island Hysterical Society, which undertakes projects such as restoring old rides in response to the alarming rate at which they were shutting down in the fabled amusement park of their childhood. Ms. Marano is a daughter of Brooklyn. She holds a BFA from Pratt Institute, is an intimate of the visual poetry of Coney Island, created the winning poster for the first Spirit of Brooklyn poster competition, and is a master of papier collé, the elegant cut paper technique she learned as a studio assistant to preeminent artist Robert Indiana. Marano’s acclaimed series, “American- Dream-Land,” a decades-spanning project of papier collé originals and limited edition prints, penetrates the soul of Coney Island to reveal its twin promises of candy-colored paradise and gritty raw excitement. Her ornate compositions are cut out of “color-aid” paper - a type of paper coated with vibrant screen printers ink, the same paper which Romare Bearden frequently incorporated into his collages. Marano’s work has been exhibited by Tabla Rasa Gallery, ACA Galleries, by Prince Street Gallery, Smart Clothes Gallery, the Municipal Art Society, the Museum of the City of New York, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and the Coney Island Museum among others in the New York area and at the George Krevsky Gallery in San Francisco and are also represented in private, corporate and museum collections including the Brooklyn Museum. “American Dream-Land” and Marano’s work as a co-founder (with artist Richard Eagan) of the Coney Island Hysterical Society were featured in Charles Denson’s award-winning book “Coney Island Lost and Found” (Ten Speed Press, Berkeley/Toronto, 2002). Additional publications featuring Marano and “American Dream-Land” include Amusing the Zillion, 24/7 Magazine, the New York Times, the Daily News and others. Her current work expands into the larger city, exposing elements of urban life: the underappreciated grace of an out-of-the-way tire shop; the disquieting lure of an exit sign at night. In addition to creating papier collé images for this examination of the city’s overlooked beauty, she is also working on a cut-paper animation, “Take Me There,” a fantasy inspired by both her early train rides to Coney Island and a proposal for the Franklin Avenue subway. The ”Take Me There” trailer is posted for viewing on You Tube. Born in Brooklyn, NY Lives & works in Brooklyn, NY and in Sarasota, Florida
  • Creator:
    Philomena Marano (1952, American)
  • Creation Year:
    2019
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13 in (33.02 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
    Hard-Edge
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU133915704071
More From This SellerView All
  • Clock & Chute, 1981
    By Philomena Marano
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    Edition of 200 Coney Island Philomena Marano is known for her colorful cut paper technique. She worked with Robert Indiana. Ms. Marano's work is in m...
    Category

    1980s Hard-Edge Abstract Prints

    Materials

    Screen

  • High Flyer circus trapeze artist bright colors blue sky clouds bold
    By Philomena Marano
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    Although "High Flyer" is a contemporary setting of a bungee jump in an American traveling circus it is also a tribute to "Miss La La," a circus performer of...
    Category

    2010s Hard-Edge Figurative Prints

    Materials

    Archival Paper, Archival Ink

  • Vortex of Doom Circus thrill show blue sky clouds motorcycles daredevils
    By Philomena Marano
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    The Vortex of Doom is an actual attraction performed by daredevils in traveling circus shows. After decades of creating Coney Island inspired images, t...
    Category

    2010s Hard-Edge Figurative Prints

    Materials

    Archival Paper, Archival Ink

  • Coney Island trio, colorful, playful, targets, bright, fun, games, amusement park
    By Philomena Marano
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    Editions 1-5 of 5 + 0AP Framed in a black wood shadow box frame with glass
    Category

    2010s Hard-Edge Prints and Multiples

    Materials

    Archival Paper

  • I Hear the Brooklyn Bridge Singing, bright colors, urban landscape, new york
    By Philomena Marano
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    Edition limited to 50 Size: 22" x 28" Philomena Marano has spent decades “penetrat[ing] the soul of Coney Island to reveal its twin promises of candy-colored paradise and garishly or...
    Category

    2010s Hard-Edge Landscape Prints

    Materials

    Archival Pigment

  • THRILLS, Coney Island wonder Wheel, night, neon sign, amusement park, colorful
    By Philomena Marano
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    Ltd ed archival pigment print., ed 50 Original art was created as part of Marano's"American-Dream-Land," Coney Island series and later translated to an edition. Philomena Marano has spent decades “penetrat[ing] the soul of Coney Island to reveal its twin promises of candy-colored paradise and garishly ornate nightmare,” as Ann Aptaker describes, through the prints and cut-paper collage in her “American Dream-land” series (1979-). These colorful, graphic style works evoke the energy and amusement of Coney Island through depictions of the rides, the boardwalk, clowns, and food vendors. Ms. Marano is a daughter of Brooklyn. She holds a BFA from Pratt Institute, is an intimate of the visual poetry of Coney Island, created the winning poster for the first Spirit of Brooklyn poster...
    Category

    Early 2000s Hard-Edge Prints and Multiples

    Materials

    Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

You May Also Like
  • "Desert Icon Exp.", circa 1970, Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren
    By Roy Ahlgren
    Located in Long Island City, NY
    Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Desert Icon Exp. Year: circa 1970 Medium: Silkscreen, signed, titled and numbered in pencil Edition: 2/10 Image Size: 17 x 17 inche...
    Category

    1970s Abstract Geometric More Prints

    Materials

    Screen

  • Emil Schumacher Limited Edition Serigraph Terraraph Print Abstract Art Informel
    Located in Surfside, FL
    Heavily textured abstract print in a serigraph and terragraph technique. It has a raised texture to the surface, A beautiful piece. This listing is for the one print, the cover justification sheet and the photograph are just included for provenance. This is from the limited edition of 100. Hand signed and numbered on colophon page. (They are not signed and numbered on each print) Arches paper. Dimensions: 15.75 X 15.25 These have a texture that feels like a painting. Done in Jaffa Israel based on the Hebrew Bible. Jewish, Judaica interest. Emil Schumacher is among the best-known exponents of Art Informel in Germany. His painting style, which he initially developed in the 1950s under the influence of Wols, is marked by dark, brownish black or brilliant thick red colours and a graffiti like sign language that endow the pictures the expressive character of old cracked masonry. Emil Schumacher (29 August 1912 in Hagen, Westfalen – 4 October 1999 in San José, Ibiza) was a German artist and painter. He was an important representative of abstract expressionism in post-war Germany. As an 18-year-old, Emil Schumacher undertakes a four-week-long bicycle tour to Paris, France. 1932–1935: Studies graphic design at the School of Applied Arts in Dortmund intending to become a graphic designer in advertising. 1935–1939: Independent artist without participating in exhibits. He undertakes study trips by bicycle to the Netherlands and Belgium. 1939–1945: Service obligation as draftsman in an arms factory, the Akkumulatoren–Werke of Hagen. Since 1945: Immediately after end of war, new start as independent artist. 1947: First solo exhibit in the Studio für neue Kunst. Co-founder of the artist group Junger Westen. 1954: Participates in the Willem Sandberg...
    Category

    20th Century Abstract Expressionist Abstract Prints

    Materials

    Screen

  • Emil Schumacher Limited Edition Serigraph Terraraph Print Abstract Art Informel
    Located in Surfside, FL
    Heavily textured abstract print in a serigraph and terragraph technique. It has a raised texture to the surface, A beautiful piece. This listing is for the one print, the cover justification sheet and the photograph are just included for provenance. This is from the limited edition of 100. Hand signed and numbered on colophon page. (They are not signed and numbered on each print) Arches paper. Dimensions: 15.75 X 15.25 These have a texture that feels like a painting. Done in Jaffa Israel based on the Hebrew Bible. Jewish, Judaica interest. Emil Schumacher is among the best-known exponents of Art Informel in Germany. His painting style, which he initially developed in the 1950s under the influence of Wols, is marked by dark, brownish black or brilliant thick red colours and a graffiti like sign language that endow the pictures the expressive character of old cracked masonry. Emil Schumacher (29 August 1912 in Hagen, Westfalen – 4 October 1999 in San José, Ibiza) was a German artist and painter. He was an important representative of abstract expressionism in post-war Germany. As an 18-year-old, Emil Schumacher undertakes a four-week-long bicycle tour to Paris, France. 1932–1935: Studies graphic design at the School of Applied Arts in Dortmund intending to become a graphic designer in advertising. 1935–1939: Independent artist without participating in exhibits. He undertakes study trips by bicycle to the Netherlands and Belgium. 1939–1945: Service obligation as draftsman in an arms factory, the Akkumulatoren–Werke of Hagen. Since 1945: Immediately after end of war, new start as independent artist. 1947: First solo exhibit in the Studio für neue Kunst. Co-founder of the artist group Junger Westen. 1954: Participates in the Willem Sandberg...
    Category

    20th Century Abstract Expressionist Abstract Prints

    Materials

    Screen

  • Max Bill, Original Exhibition Poster from 1970, Abstract Screenprint, Op Art
    By Max Bill
    Located in Hamburg, DE
    Orignal poster for Max Bill's exhibition "Grafiken aus 30 Jahren" at Galerie Design 1 in Hamburg in 1970.
    Category

    20th Century Abstract Abstract Prints

    Materials

    Screen

  • Fred Sandback, Original Exhibition Poster from 1971, Minimalism
    By Fred Sandback
    Located in Hamburg, DE
    Original silkscreen poster for Fred Sandback's exhibition at Galerie Reckermann, Cologne, March 12–April 15, 1971. Catalogue raisonné: 1970.01
    Category

    20th Century Abstract Abstract Prints

    Materials

    Screen

  • Abstract Composition - Screen Print by Plinio Mesciulam - 1973
    By Plinio Mesciulam
    Located in Roma, IT
    Abstract Composition is an Original Screen Print realized by Plinio Mesciulam in 1973. Very good condition on a black cardboard. Hand-signed and numbered by the artist on the lower...
    Category

    1970s Abstract More Prints

    Materials

    Screen

Recently Viewed

View All