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)
For Adults Only, Pop Art Lithograph by Larry Rivers
By Larry Rivers
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Larry Rivers, American (1923 - 2002) Title: For Adults Only Year: 1971 Medium: Offset Lithograph with Collage on Two Sheets of Wove paper, signed and numbered in pencil Editi...
Lithograph
Larry Rivers Lithograph "For Adults Only I" Corseted Nude Female
By Larry Rivers
Located in Detroit, MI
"For Adults Only I" is an exquisite offset lithograph print with colors of an alluring corseted and stockinged nude female in a confrontational pose filling the frame inviting the vi...
Lithograph, Offset
$1,000
H 11 in W 8.5 in
Raymond Pettibon Black Flag punk flyer (Raymond Pettibon Punk)
By Raymond Pettibon
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Raymond Pettibon illustrated Black Flag flyer published on the occasion of: Black Flag on Broadway / Dec. 19 1982 / Dec. 20 1982 with Code of Honor, Redd Kross, Nig-Heist, & Flipper...
Offset
$300
H 6 in W 4 in D 0.01 in
Keith Haring Into 84 (Keith Haring Tony Shafrazi announcement card)
By Keith Haring
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Keith Haring Painted Man: Original 1983 announcement card for Keith Haring’s well-documented exhibition, Keith Haring 'Into 84' at Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York, 1983. For this series Haring borrowed Jones' body — from head to toe — as the canvas to his work. A bodily canvas defined by much of the bold pictograms characteristic of Haring's artistic signature. Photos by Haring's long-time friend and collaborator Tseng Kwong Chi. Off-set printed, 1983. Dimensions: 6 x 4 inches. Some minor fading to the reverse; otherwise very good overall condition with strong colors. Literature: Keith Haring: Posters (Prestel pub.) Further About In 1983 Keith Haring teamed up with award-winning choreographer and dancer Bill T. Jones, founder of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Keith and Bill met in London in 1983 at a time when the graffiti artist was opening a major show at the Robert Fraser Gallery, and together they produced a series of exceptional collaborations in both performance and drawing. Related Categories Keith Haring dancer. Ballet. Keith Haring Figurative Drawings. Keith Haring Into 84 poster. Keith Haring and Tony Shafrazi. Haring Shafrazi.
Offset, Lithograph
$1,200
H 11 in W 8.5 in
Raymond Pettibon Black Flag 1982 postmarked (Raymond Pettibon punk flyer)
By Raymond Pettibon
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Raymond Pettibon Black Flag: 1982 Raymond Pettibon illustrated Black Flag punk flyer published on the occasion of: Black Flag, Saccharine Trust, The Minutemen...
Offset, Lithograph
Keith Haring Into 84 poster (vintage Keith Haring)
By Keith Haring
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Keith Haring Into 84 exhibition poster: Vintage original 1980's poster designed by Keith Haring for his well-documented exhibition, 'Keith Haring: Into 84' at...
Lithograph, Offset
Diane, John Kacere
By John Kacere
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: John Kacere (1930-1999) Title: Diane Year: 1979 Edition: A.P.; 200, plus proofs. Medium: Lithograph on Waterford paper Size: 19 x 28 inches Inscription: Signed by the artist ...
Lithograph
$1,715
H 27 in W 24 in D 1 in
Homage to Picasso Etching, Signed, Pop Art, Edition of 99, 1991, Framed
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Etching on paper. Hand signed and numbered by Peter Max. From the edition of 99. Frame size approx 27 x 24 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity included. All reasonable offers will be considered. About the Artist: Peter Max (American, born 1937) is known for his unique brand of rainbow-hued prints and paintings, which he has created since the early 1960s. Employing painterly strokes, his illustrations incorporate a wide spectrum of colors and patterns as seen in his Umbrella Man series. “I'm just wowed by the universe. I'm just glad to do something I love to do. I love color, I love painting, I love shapes...
Paper, Lithograph
$825
H 7 in W 5 in
Keith Haring Help the Homeless 1985 (Keith Haring 1985 announcement)
By Keith Haring
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Keith Haring 1985: Keith Haring off-set illustrated announcement card, NY, 1985: "NY for NY, Help The Homeless" at The Roxy, West 18th St., NYC. Off-set printed, 1985 (folds open in...
Offset, Lithograph
Raymond Pettibon Black Flag 1984 (Raymond Pettibon punk)
By Raymond Pettibon
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Raymond Pettibon Black Flag 1984: Rare early 1980's Black Flag promotional poster illustrated by Raymond Pettibon for the seminal Black Flag record: My War. A striking, historic 1980s Raymond Pettibon Black Flag poster sure to standout in any setting. Offset printed punk poster...
Lithograph, Offset
$2,800
H 22 in W 29.5 in
Untitled from Doctors of the World Portfolio, hand signed & numbered Pop realism
By Chuck Close
Located in New York, NY
Chuck Close Untitled Daguerreotypes, 2001 Two (2) pigmented digital output iris prints from daguerroeotype printed in a single sheet of wove paper 22 × 29 1/4 inches Signed in pencil...
Pencil, Lithograph, Pigment
$400Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 23 in
Tomi Ungerer Nude Gun (Tomi Ungerer underground sketchbook)
By Tomi Ungerer
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Tomi Ungerer Nude Gun: a selection from Underground Sketchbook: First printing, 1965. Medium: Vintage poster. Dimensions: 23 in. x 29 in. (58.42 cm x 73.66 cm). Very good overall vi...
Lithograph, Offset
$1,000
H 8.5 in W 11 in
Raymond Pettibon illustrated Punk flyer 1980 (Raymond Pettibon punk art)
By Raymond Pettibon
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Raymond Pettibon Punk Art 1980: Rare early Raymond Pettibon illustrated punk flyer published on the occasion of: The Dead Kennedys & Circle Jerks at The Whisky A Go Go: August, 1980....
Offset
$825
H 7 in W 5 in
Keith Haring Help the Homeless 1989 (Keith Haring 1989 announcement)
By Keith Haring
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Keith Haring 1989: Keith Haring illustrated announcement card, NY, 1989. Published on the occasion of a 1989 fundraiser to help the homeless. Off-set printed, 1989. Measures: 5 x 7...
Lithograph, Offset