Martin Snipper Art
Martin Snipper studied at the National Academy of Art in New York and exhibited at the San Francisco Art Museum's (later to become SFMOMA) annual exhibitions. He was the Director of the San Francisco Art Festival and Arts Commission.
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Artist: Martin Snipper
'Concert', San Francisco Bay Area Expressionist Oil, National Academy, Guitarist
By Martin Snipper
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Initialed lower left, 'M.S.' for Martin Snipper (American, 1914-2009) and dated 1952. Additionally signed, verso, 'Martin Snipper' and dated on stretcher bar.
Artist photo courtesy of The Lost Art Salon.
This Expressionist and Bay Area Figurative painter, mixed media artist, and sculptor was born in New York City in 1914 and grew up in Los Angeles. During the Great Depression, he rode the rails back to New York with just $5 in his pocket to attend the National Academy of Art, where he met his first wife. Snipper applied to the academy twice to ensure he would be accepted: once under his given name and once under his mother's maiden name. When he was accepted as Martin Snipper, he adopted the name permanently. In addition to his career as a fine artist, Snipper became a foundational figure in the development of the San Francisco Bay Area art movement of the 1960's and 1970's.
Snipper remains a legendary figure in San Francisco, both for boldly expanding the Arts Commission during his tenure as Executive Director (1967-1980), and for helping shepherd the Neighborhood Arts Program into existence over 40 years ago. His innovative grass-roots approach inspired similar programs in cities across the United States while San Francisco's own program continues to bring writers into public schools, oversee the city's publicly owned cultural centers, and fund art programs and events.
"He took the commission from being a sleepy operation ... and transformed arts in this town to a place it had never been before," said Stephen Goldstine, who ran the Neighborhoods Art Program under Mr. Snipper and later became president of the San Francisco Art Institute. "He was a person of unusual vitality - into his 90s he was still driving his truck to a stone yard...
Category
1950s Modern Martin Snipper Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
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Martin Snipper art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Martin Snipper available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Martin Snipper in canvas, fabric, oil paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1950s and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Martin Snipper, so small editions measuring 24 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Edwin Georgi, Edouard Goerg, and William Harnden. Martin Snipper prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $4,500 and tops out at $4,500, while the average work can sell for $4,500.