This story is about a talented and famous American artist, known for his paintings and sculptures in the pop art style. Find out more about the early years, creative path and personal life of Roy Lichtenstein at i-manhattan.
Early years
Roy Fox Lichtenstein is one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century, who worked in the style of pop art, becoming a leading figure of this movement. Comics and advertising became the main inspiration of his works.
Roy Lichtenstein was born on October 27, 1923 in Manhattan, a borough of New York. Father Milton Lichtenstein was engaged in real estate. Mother Beatrice Werner Lichtenstein was a housewife. The boy spent his entire childhood in the Upper West Side. Until the age of 12, Roy studied in a public school and then transferred to a private Dwight School. Young Lichtenstein became interested in art during his school years. Even then, he often painted. Especially he liked to depict jazz performers. Subsequently, the boy began to study art, attending classes at the Art Students League of New York art school.
Period of formation
After school, Roy Lichtenstein entered Ohio State University to study art. However, later the war broke out. Roy was called to serve. There he stayed for three years. After returning from the army, the man continued his studies under the guidance of Hoyt L. Sherman. After receiving a master’s degree in fine arts, he was engaged in teaching and painting for some time, particularly in the style of cubism and expressionism.
Already in 1951, the artist held his first personal exhibition at the Carlebach Gallery. In 1960, Roy began teaching at Rutgers University. It was during this period that Lichtenstein began to work in the artistic direction of pop art, creating cult comics.
In 1962, Lichtenstein organized a personal exhibition at the Castelli Gallery. It came out so successful that almost the entire collection was immediately bought up by influential collectors. Among his famous paintings, we can distinguish the following ones: “Drowning Girl”, “Whaam!”, “Nurse”, “Compositions I”, “We Rose Up Slowly”, “Yellow and Green Brushstrokes”, etc.
During this period, Lichtenstein’s works became very popular not only in America but also throughout the world. However, some contradictions arose repeatedly regarding the identity of the paintings with comics. Nevertheless, Roy himself believed that his works were similar to comics, but by no means the same ones. Because of the popularization of the activity, Lichtenstein ended teaching career, returned to America and concentrated on art.
In 1966, Lichtenstein slightly changed his painting style and started his series called “Modern Paintings”. He then painted about 60 paintings using a variety of techniques, including Ben-Day dots, geometric shapes, etc.
Also during this period, the artist worked on a series of works “Brushstrokes”, “Mirrors”, “Reflections”, “Interiors”, “Landscapes in the Chinese Style”, etc. In addition to paintings, the artist also worked on sculptures and engravings. The year 1980 was rich in various orders for public places, various institutions, companies, etc.
In general, it is worth noting that Roy Fox Lichtenstein really became one of the most influential and innovative artists of the 20th century, for which he deservedly received recognition and a number of awards.
Personal life
The artist’s first wife was Isabel Wilson, whom he married in 1949. Two sons, David and Mitchell, were born in the marriage. However, the couple divorced in 1965.
In 1968, Lichtenstein married his second wife, Dorothy Herzka. While married, in 1991, the man had a love affair with a 22-year-old actress Erica Wexler, but this “love story” ended in 1994.
Prominent artist Roy Fox Lichtenstein died on September 29, 1997 from pneumonia at NYU Langone Health medical center.