Richard Bernstein | |
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| Born | Richard Fredrick Bernstein October 31, 1939 New York, NY |
| Died | October 18, 2002 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Bachelor of Fine Arts |
| Alma mater | Pratt Institute |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Website | http://www.richardbernsteinart.com |
Richard Bernstein (October 31, 1939- October 18, 2002) was an American artist and leading figure in visual arts movement known as pop art.
He had the singular honor of doing the cover art for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine for nearly 20 years where he created an unmistakable identifiable style that is instantly recognizable as the “Bernstein Look.” His work utilized a variety of media including painting, silkscreening, photography. As a “chronicler of his times,” his portraits of Salvador Dali, Ryan O’Neal & Racquel Welch exemplify the ‘pop art’ genre.
Sometimes confused with Warhol’s own work, Mr. Bernstein’s portraits of stars like Cher, Ali MacGraw, Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone captured the glittering excess of the disco era. Embellishing photographs with pencils, airbrush and pastels, he gave his subjects an idealized glow that was intensified by the large format of the magazine.
Early life
editBernstein was born on October 31, 1939 in New York City to a Jewish family with an older brother and younger sister Ellen. His father Herbert Bernstein was a clothing manufacturer and his mother Florence was a homemaker who was supportive of his artistic talents. His mother first took him to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art children's school where he saw works by Piet Mondrian Pablo Picasso and other masters where Bernstein gained an appreciation for art and wanted to explore his interest. Bernstein got his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Pratt Institute and M.F.A. from Columbia University.
Career
editAs a fine art major, he studied with Richard Lindner while earning his B.F.A. from Pratt and his M.F.A. from Columbia University. His mastery of painting is easily seen in his brilliant portraiture. Bernstein's incredible affinity with the human face has led to works that are both figurative and iconic, reflecting both an era and culture. His incorporation of several mediums on a single canvas shows the interrelation of elements he saw in the world around him.
Bernstein launched his fine art career at the legendary Irit Clert Gallery in Paris. He had then shown at the Axiom Gallery in London, the Gallery Barozzi in Venice, the Gallery Money in Amsterdam and several one man shows at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery in New York City.
His works are part of several major collections, including the Corcoran Gallery of Fine Art in Washing D.C., the Stejdlik Museum in Amsterdam and moth the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
In the early 1960’s, he moved into the Chelsea Hotel, which became the home of Edie Sedgwick and other Warhol superstars.
In the 1970s, Bernstein met Andy Warhol and went on to become a key member of the Factory. In the 70’s, he mingled with the Warhol group and the fashionable crowd at clubs like Studio 54.
He was also art director of Calvin Klein's national billboard campaign and acting as art advisor for innumerable music videos and TV commercials.
His other work in the music industry has led to several award winning album covers for recording artists such as Grace Jones.
In 1984, Bernstein released his first book "Megastar" commemorating his fine portraiture. The first edition of this coffee table book printed in three languages were completely sold out making it a valuable collectors item. In her introduction to the book Paloma Picasso wrote: ‘Richard Bernstein portrays stars. He celebrates their faces, he gives them larger-than-fiction size. He puts wit into the beauties, fantasy into the rich, depth into the glamorous and adds instant patina to newcomers.’ Bernstein made the up-and-coming celebrities of the era-Sylvester Stallone, Calvin Klein, Madonna, even wholesome Mary Tyler Moore-look as sleek and sexy as our nostalgic memories of that era. “Things are stronger, faster and further,” Paloma Picasso wrote of Bernstein’s oeuvre in a published collection of his work, Megastar . “Superstars became Megastars.”
In 1990, Bernstein had been commissioned by the World Federation of United Nations to create the first postal stamp of the new decade. This commission places him in the company of Warhol, Calder and Picasso who had been similarly honored.
Legacy
editBernstein’s work was often mistaken for Warhol’s and this was exacerbated by Warhol who delighted in signing the covers of Interview for his fans. "Richard Bernstein’s faces are wonderful,” Warhol once said, adding, "They’re so colorful, and he makes everyone look so famous.” Mr. Bernstein's work is in the permanent collection of National Portrait Gallery of Washington, Museum of Modern Art, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Hirshhorn Museum and countless private collections.
Book & Magazine Illustrations, Record Covers, Special Projects & Awards
edit1964 Automobile Quarterly, Collage Illustration
1971 Coty Awards Set Design, F.I.T. with Bea Feitler for Elenor Lambert
1973 Cher, Stars, Record cover, Warner Brothers
1973 Star Discs, Record cover, London Records
1973 Dana Gillespie, Cover art, Mainman
1975 Art Direction Magazine, Ad Dir, Award for "Women Behind Bars"
1975 Black Soul, Cover art, Beam Junction
1975 Celia Cruz, Cover art, Fania All Stars, SaJSoul
1976 Grace Jones, Record cover, Beam Junction
1977 Phonographics, Brad Benedict, McWilliam Publishing Company
1977 Pakalameredith, Record cover, Elektra
1977 "Fame," Grace Jones, Record cover, Island
1977 Ducan Sisters, Cover art, Casablanca
1978 Meus Olhos, by Luis Tripoli, Celebrity portrait published in Brazil
1978 Booldist, American Library Association, Cover from "Romantic and Glamourous Hollywood"
1978 Zeigfield Ball, In honor of Erte, At the Metropolitan Club, Costume design for Grace Jones
1978 "Muse," Grace Jones, Record cover, Island
1979 Loleatta Holloway, Record cover! SalSoul
1979 Grace Jones, On Your Knees. Cover, Island
1980 An International Salute To Opera, Writters and artists for Peace in the Mid East
1981 Love. The Art Of Romance, Brad Benedict, Harmony Books
1981 Illustration, Nov., Japan, Four page spread
1982 Japanese Vogue, "Brooke Shields-East Meets West"
1982 The New Illustration, Airbrush Artists
1984 Fame 1, Cover an and repro inside, Brad Benedict, Grove Press
1984 Nightlife Magazine, N.Y. Mega.star
1985 Fame 2, Cover art and repro inside, Brad Benedict, Grove Press
1985 Time Magazine, "Miami Vice" cover
1986 German Vogue, Andy Warhol painting, Art Director-Helmut Schmidt
1986 Gentlemen's Quarterly, N.Y., Bill Murray portrait
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1987 Bay City Rollers, T.V. title cards, Hanna-Barbera
1987 Cosmopolitan Japan, Tokyo, New Wave Artists
1988 S.O.S. First Annual Benefit Auction, Sotheby's, N.Y.
1988 Night Of A Hundred Trees
1988 Playboy Magazine, "Nancy Reagan" portrait
1988 Faz Allemange; Germany covers
1989 Print Case Showbood Award, Best cover
1989 Save The Animals, Park Bernet, Auction of portrait of Diana Vreeland
1989 Amor Y Caridad, Mexico City, Benefit for Children's AIDS Hospital, Presented by Arnold Schwarzenegger
1989 L.A. Herald Examiner, Click, Joan Quinn
1989 N.Y. Times Magazine, Fall season cover
1989 Inside Story, Grace Jones. Cover Manhattan
1989 Inside Story, Video art director, libonatti
1990 Sunday At The Bay, Bellport auction for AIDS benefit
1990 Hot Air No.1 Design Excellence, Interview and reproduction of Sly Stallone. North lights
1990 Edie, Cover art for Bantam Books paperback edition, Plimpton
1990 W.F.U.N.A., Stamps designed on the computer, Designed by the artist and awarded a commemoration plaque by
Secretary General Javier De Cuellar
1990 Nightlife Magazine Photographic Debut, Cover and editorial with Grace Jones
1990 Zoom Magazine, Photo story on Chelsea artists, Photos by Rita Burrows
1990 Expresso Magazine, France. Photo story
1990 Paul Jabara, Cover art
1990 Grace Jones, I'm Not Perfect, Cover art, Capitol
1990 Grace Jones, Do Or Die, Cover art, Island
1991 Grace Jones, Killer Kiss, Cover art, Capitol
1992 Official Portrait of Robert F. Kennedy for the R.F.K. Memorial Center
1992 Italian Vogue, Feb., Artists Of The Chelsea Hotel, Oaneiala Morera
Publications, Reviews, Quotes & Reproductions
edit1965 David Bourdon, Village Voice, 1965
1971 Chicago Today, May Mike Jahn, The Artist in Studio
1971 Arts Magazine Sept. and Oct. Reproduction and review from show at French and Co. Group Show
1972 The Realist Revival. Scott Burton
1972 Phases of New Realism, Lowe Art Museum, John J. Baratte
1973 University Art Gallery, San Jose University
1973 A Flash of U.S. Avant Garde I Realism, Espace Cardin, Maurice-Frederick Calatchi
1973 Interview Magazine, Feature story on Years with Warhol
197 4 Selections in Contemporary Realism, Akron Art lnstitue, Robert Boltz
1974 Nineteenth National Print Exhibit, Brooklyn Museum, Jo Miller
1974 Tokyo Biennale '74, The Mainichi Newspapers East Coast I West Coast I New Realism
1975 Art Directions Dec., Two page article on Graphics and Design with Illustrations
1975 Art Bibliographies Modem-Volume No. 2.
1975 Soho Weekly News Feb., Review at Lajeski Gallery with Photos
1978 · Rolling Stone. Sept., Interview with artist about his celebrated cover art
1980 E.C. Windward Gallery, Real Estate & Designs Trade. May 28, 1980
1980 Los Angeles Herald Examiner, May 18, 1980 issue on show at E.C. Windward Gallery
1982 Studio Voice. Japan. Cover story
1982 New York Magazine. Story with photos of artist
1984 Mega Star. Richard Bernstein, Indigo Books
1987 Art Directions. March, Computer art for best cover graphics
1987 Fame Magazine. Max's Kansas City
1988 New York Magazine, Feb. • Andy's Empire
1988 Print Casebooks, Best Graphics for cover art
1989 Andy Warhol I A Retrospective. MOMA
1989 Andy Warhol, David Bourdon. Harry Abrams
1989 The Warhol Diaries, Warner Books
1989 The Party Book I Warhol, Pat Hackett
1989 Print World Directory, '88-'89 Contemporary Prints
1989 L.A. Herald Examiner, Click, by Joan Quinn
1989 Fame Magazine, The New York Studio people story
1990 Holy Terror, Bob Colaciello. Harper
1990 Express, Sabads 23, De Jusekss De, 1990, on Chelsea Artist
1990 Hamptons Paper, Labor Day, 1990. on an Artist in new Gallery Rempire
1990 The East Hampton Star. August 24. 1ggo, on show at Hampton Sq. Gallery, "August Heras"
1990 The Hamptons. August 24, 1990
1990 The Miami Herald, April 22. 1990. on show at Barbara Gilman Gallery
1990 The Providence Journal. Jan., U.N. Stamps
1990 Street News. March. U.N. Stamps
1991 Zoom Magazine. Dec., Interview with artist
1991 Hollywood Reporter. Cornerstone Gallery, Review of one man show
1992 Detour Magazine, Profile on the artist
1992 Italian Vogue. Feb .. Chelsea Artists
1997 The Warhol Look: Glamour, Style Fashion, The Andy Warhol Museum, curated by Mark Francis and Margery Kind
2014 MOMA, Making Music Modern, Design for Ear and Eye
2016 Brooklyn Museum, Iggy Pop
Personal Life and death
editThough he was bisexual, Bernstein was engaged to actress, photographer Berry Berenson whom he met while they were working at Interview Magazine. Ms. Berenson later married actor Anthony Perkins. In the mid 1990s Mr. Bernstein tested HIV positive but had been able to keep it in remission until his death. Bernstein died on October 18 2002 in his apartment at the Hotel Chelsea of heart failure.