Larry Rivers was born August 17, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York and died August 14, 2002, in Southampton, New York. He was an American painter whose works frequently combined the vigorous, painterly brushstrokes of Abstract Expressionism with the commercial images of the Pop art movement.
Rivers early developed an interest in jazz, and after briefly serving in the army during World War II he studied composition at the Juilliard School of Music. One of his classmates there was Miles Davis, who introduced him to other jazz musicians, and Rivers was soon touring the United States with different groups as a jazz saxophonist. In 1945, however, he was given a book on modern art and quickly discovered he had a natural talent for painting. From 1947 to 1948 he studied in the New York City and Provincetown, Massachusetts, school of the prominent Abstract Expressionist Hans Hofmann. Rivers later studied at New York University College, graduating in 1951. His early paintings were exhibited in New York City in 1949.
Rivers’ works were characterized by competent draftsmanship, a fine sense of color, and the frequent use of complex, fragmentary, and multiple views. Beginning in 1961, commercial images, such as cigarette packages, figured prominently in his pictures, which, after 1963, frequently had elements of collage, construction, and sculpture. A particularly elaborate example of such mixed-media works was The History of the Russian Revolution: From Marx to Mayakovsky (1965), which had some 30 individual paintings and included, among other objects, a machine gun. His autobiography, What Did I Do? (co written with Arnold Weinstein), was published in 1992.
Rivers, Larry
1980 Original lithograph in colors Signed by the artist in pencil, dated and numbered 14 3/4 x 13 in. (37.5 x 33 cm), unframed Edition of 75 SOLD1999 Three-dimensional original lithograph in colors on a relief of foam core, laid down on wood Signed by the artist in black pen, dated and numbered 33 ¾ x 29 ½ x 3 in (86 x 75 x 7.5 cm), unframed Edition of 53 SOLD1989 Lithograph and screenprint Signed in the lithographic plate 36 x 24 in Edition of 300 SOLD1982 Lithograph in colors Signed by the artist in pencil and numbered 38 x 30 ½ inches (96.5 x 77.5 cm) Edition of 90 SOLD1970 Three-dimensional color screenprint on acrylic backing affixed to acrylic stand Incised with artist’s signature 9 x 9 in. (22.9 x 22.9 cm) A unique proof outside of the edition of 100 SOLDRivers early developed an interest in jazz, and after briefly serving in the army during World War II he studied composition at the Juilliard School of Music. One of his classmates there was Miles Davis, who introduced him to other jazz musicians, and Rivers was soon touring the United States with different groups as a jazz saxophonist. In 1945, however, he was given a book on modern art and quickly discovered he had a natural talent for painting. From 1947 to 1948 he studied in the New York City and Provincetown, Massachusetts, school of the prominent Abstract Expressionist Hans Hofmann. Rivers later studied at New York University College, graduating in 1951. His early paintings were exhibited in New York City in 1949.
Rivers’ works were characterized by competent draftsmanship, a fine sense of color, and the frequent use of complex, fragmentary, and multiple views. Beginning in 1961, commercial images, such as cigarette packages, figured prominently in his pictures, which, after 1963, frequently had elements of collage, construction, and sculpture. A particularly elaborate example of such mixed-media works was The History of the Russian Revolution: From Marx to Mayakovsky (1965), which had some 30 individual paintings and included, among other objects, a machine gun. His autobiography, What Did I Do? (co written with Arnold Weinstein), was published in 1992.