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Jonathan Silver
Born in Brooklyn , NY 1937
Died in New York, NY 1992
1963 B.S., Columbia University
1966 MA, Art History, Columbia University; PhD (candidate), studied under Meyer Schapiro; Dissertation Topic: Giacometti,
1968–69 Edward J. Noble Fellow in Art, Columbia University, New York, NY; Study: The Painting of Giacometti
Solo EXHIBITIONS
2018 Jonathan Silver, Drawings and Heads curated by Marion Smit, New York Studio School, NY
2017 Jonathan Silver, Rental Gallery, organized by Nicole Klagsbrun, East Hampton, NY
2008 Jonathan Silver: Sculpture, Lori Bookstein Fine Art, New York, NY
1995 Jonathan Silver Memorial Show: Heads [Sculptures and Drawings], curated by Michael Brenson, Sculpture Center, New York, NY
1992 Drawings, Victoria Munroe Fine Art, Ltd., New York, NYGremillion Gallery, Houston, TX
1991 Victoria Munroe Gallery, New York, NY; sculptures and drawings, including installations The New Gretchen, Heads
1989 The Lower Room, Installation, Sculpture Center, New York, NY Trinity Gallery, Atlanta, GA (January) Birth of Venus, (permanent installation), Charles Center, Baltimore, MD
1988 Jonathan Silver: Recent Sculpture and an Installation Chance Overthrown, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ Gremillion Gallery, Houston, TX
1987 University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT C. Grimaldis Gallery, Baltimore, MD
1986, Jonathan Silver: Sculpture, 1975–1986, Gruenebaum Gallery, New York, NY; including instal lation “The Chapel of Alexander Severus”
1984 New York Studio School, New York, NY
Selected Group EXHIBITIONS
2019 Alberto Giacometti, Herbert Matter, Matthew Monahan, Jonathan Silver, Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery, New York, NY
2012 Heads, Lori Bookstein Fine Art, New York, NY (“Untitled,” c. 1978, plaster and mixed media, 18 x 8 x 6 ½ inches) Alfred H. Mauer and Jonathan Silver: An Installation, Lori Bookstein Fine Art, New York, NY
1992 American Academy of Arts & Letters Annual Invitational, New York, NY Summer Salon, Victoria Munroe Fine Art, New York, NY Williams-Tavelli Gallery, Denver, CO Graham Gallery, New York, NY On Paper, The Sculpture Center, New York, NY Allusions,” David Beitzel Gallery, New York, NY Apocalypse and Resurrection: Art Exhibit and Benefit for American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFar) curated by Douglas Maxwell, The Gallery Three Zero, New York, NY
1991 Bronze, Frumkin/Adams Gallery, New York, NY Food Center Sculpture Park at Hunt’s Point, Bronx, NY
1990 National Academy of Design, New York, NY The Expressionist Surface, Queens Museum, Queens NY Sculptors Draw the Nude, Luise Ross Gallery, NY
1989 IIème Biennale de Sculpture Monte-Carlo 89, Marisa Del Re Gallery, Inc., Atrium du Casino, Monte-Carlo, Monaco
1988 American Baroque, Holly Solomon Gallery, New York, NY
1987 Romanticism and Classicism, curated by Lenore Malen, Queensborough Community Gallery, Bayside, NY
1986 Art on Paper, The 22nd Weatherspoon Annual Exhibition, Weatherspoon Art Gallery, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina Heads, (curated by Jonathan Silver and Hilarie Johnston), New York Studio School, New York, NY
1985 Group Drawing Show, New York Studio School, New York, NY Twentieth Anniversary Retrospective Exhibition, New York Studio School, New York, NY
1979 Jonathan Silver and Christopher Cairns, New York Studio School, New York, NY
1978 Jonathan Silver and Christopher Cairns, Weatherspoon Art Gallery, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
1976 Bronze, Group Exhibition, 4 x 10 Gallery, New York, NY Christopher Cairns, Bruce Gagnier, and Jonathan Silver, Haverford College, Haverford, PA
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2017 Coleen Fitzgibbon, Jonathan Silver: Infidel in the Studio (L.E.S. Press, © 2016, 2017)
2001 Cindy Kelly, Outdoor Sculpture in Baltimore: A Historical Guide to Public Art in the Monumental City (Baltimore: JHU Press, 2001), pp. 8, 41
1996 Michael Brenson, Catalogue of Jonathan Silver’s show at the Sculpture Center Cynthia Nadelman, “Jonathan Silver [Review of Solo Exhibition at the Sculpture Center, New York, NY],” ARTnews, vol. 95, no. 4 (April 1996), pp. 135–36 (installation view, 1995, illustrated).[ p. 136] Nancy Princenthal, “Jonathan Silver at the Sculpture Center [Review of solo exhibition at the Sculpture Center, New York, NY, curated and with a catalogue by Michael Bren son],” Art in America, vol. 84, no. 3 (March), p. 101 (Head, 1974–75, plaster, shellac, 19 ¼ x 10 ½ x 9 ½ inches, illustrated).
1995 Pepe Karmel, “Jonathan Silver, ‘Heads’ [Sculpture Center, New York, NY],” New York Times, December 1, p. C32.
1991 Peggy Cyphers, “Peter Agostini/Jonathan Silver,” ARTS Magazine, vol. 66, no. 4 (December ), pp. 81–82. Garrit Henry, “Jonathan Silver at Victoria Munroe,” ARTnews, vol. 90, no. 9 (November), p. 135 (The New Gretchen: Never Again, installation, illustrated). Robert Taplin, “Jonathan Silver at Victoria Monroe,” Art in America, vol. 79, no. 11 (November), pp. 148–49 (The New Gretchen: Never Again, 1991, installation, illustrated). Michael Brenson, “Sculpture Borne by the Earth and Lighted by the Sky,” New York Times, Friday, March 8 (mentions Small Venus, 1989, in a group show at the Food Center Sculpture Park at Hunts Point, Bronx, NY). John Dorsey, “Ancient Themes Seen in Sculpture Show,” Baltimore Sun, January 2
1992 Apocalypse and Resurrection: Art Exhibit and Benefit for American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFar), curated by Douglas Maxwell (New York: Gallery Three Zero, 1992, n.p. Untitled, 1991, plaster, 24 x 8 x 6 inches, courtesy Victoria Munroe Gallery, New York, NY, illustrated). Douglas Dreishpoon, “New Bronze Sculpture [Review of Group Exhibition at Frumkin Adams],” ARTnews, vol. 91, no. 3 (March ), p. 136. Roberta Smith, “Jonathan Silver, 54, a Sculptor Known for Mixing Forms, Dies,” New York Times, July 14, p. B9.
1990 Barbara C. Matilsky, The Expressionist Surface: Contemporary Art in Plaster (Flushing, NY: Queens Museum, 1990) Michael Brenson, “Plaster as a Medium, Not Just an Interim Step [Review of “The Expressionist Surface: Contemporary Art in Plaster,” at the Queens Museum],” New York Times, July 13, p. C23. Walker Art Center: Painting and Sculpture from the Collection (Minneapolis: The Center; New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 1990), p. 553 Eileen Myles, “Jonathan Silver at Sculpture Center,” Art in America, vol. 78, no. 1 (January ), p. 157 (Charon, 1989, plaster and clay, 134 x 19 x 48 inches, illustrated). Eileen Watkins, “Intriguing Sculpture,” Newark Star Ledger, May 8
1989 Michael Brenson, “Egyptian Art Is Alive and Well in the West,” New York Times, December 31, p. H33 (includes remarks by Jonathan Silver on Egyptian art). Lisa Holst, “Jonathan Silver, Sculpture Center [“The Lower Room],” ARTnews, vol. 88, no. 9 (November ), pp. 169–70. (The Lower Room, 1989, installation, illustrated). Michael Brenson, “A Tableau Invoking the Netherworld [“The Lower Room”],” New York Times, September 8, p. C22 (one of the sculptures illustrated [but not reproduced in the online print out]; get the image from Met Artists’ Files]). John Dorsey, “Venus Sculptures Slashes Niche at Charles Center,” Baltimore Sun, January 31
1988 William Zimmer, “Erudite Sculpture in Montclair,” New York Times (New Jersey Edition), May 29, p. 28. (The Chapel of Alexander Severus illustrated). Eileen Watkins, “Intriguing Sculpture,” Newark Star Ledger, May 8
1987 John Dorsey, “The Sculpture of Survival,” Baltimore Sun, December 3 Lynne Ambrosini and Michelle Facos, Rodin: The Cantor Gift to The Brooklyn Museum (New York: Brooklyn Museum, 1987) (includes transcripts of Ambrosiani’s interviews with three contemporary sculptors, Bryan Hunt, Alain Kirili, and Jonathan Silver [on May 14, 1986, pp. 36-41], in which they discuss their responses to Rodin’s art; illustrated on p. 36: Diana, n. d., 94 inches (213.4 cm) high, Collection of the artist.). Michael Brenson, “Rodin’s Herioic Figures in an Analytic Age,” New York Times, August 23, pp. H27, H. 28. Susan Gill, “Jonathan Silver [Review of solo show at Gruenbaum, New York, NY),” ARTnews, vol. 86, no. 2 (February ), pp. 139–40 (Chapel of Alexander Severus, 1986, installation, illustrated). [get p. 140]
1986 Michael Brenson, “Sculpture Breaks the Mold of Minimalism,” New York Times, November 23, pp. H1, H23. Michael Brenson,, “A Fall Art Scene That’s Bristling with Energy: Genteel SoHo Is Still a Vital Center of Activity [Review of solo exhibition at the Gruenebaum Gallery, New York, NY],” New York Times, November 7, p. C26. John Russell, “An art Scene Bristling with Energy,” New York Times, November 7, p. C1 (Diana, 1982, at the Gruenebaum Gallery, illustrated). Michael Brenson, “Art: Heads [group exhibition at the New York Studio School, New York, NY, curated by Jonathan Silver and Hilarie Johnson],” New York Times, January 31, p. C32.
1985 Michael Brenson,” “Twentieth Anniversary Retrospective Exhibition [New York Studio School, New York, NY],” New York Times, May 24, p. C21. Michael Brenson, “Group Drawing Show [New York Studio School, New York, NY],” New York Times, January 25, p. C24.
1984 Barnaby Rube, “New York Exhibitions,” Art World, November Michael Brenson, “Art: Sculpture by Jonathan Silver [solo show at the New York Studio School, New York, NY,” New York Times, November 23, p. C34 (Deposition, plaster, illustrated).
1983 Michael Brenson, “Art People: Studio School True to Itself,” New York Times, February 25 p. C18 (includes remarks by Jonathan Silver, who teaches sculpture at the New York Studio School, New York, NY).
1980 “Sculpture by Christopher Cairns and Jonathan Silver,” Art News, January
1977 “Sculpture by Christopher Cairns and Jonathan Silver,” Art News, April
FILMS 1992-2017 “Jonathan Silver: Infidel in the Studio,” directed by Colleen Fitzgibbon, 1992–2017 Screenings: June 17, 2017, Ludlow House, New York, NY
AWARDS 1992 The Academy Institute Award in Art, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Let ters, New York, NY
TEACHING EXPERIENCE 1981–92 New York Studio School, New York
1983–84 Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
1970–92 Assistant Professor of Fine Arts, Montclair State College, Montclair, NJ
1966–68 The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
SELECTED LECTURES 1991 New York Studio School, New York, NY
1988 MAY 24 Dialogue with Jonathan Silver and Montclair Art Museum Director Robert J Koenig, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ
1982 “The Sculpture of Jonathan Silver and Christopher Cairns,” MFA Program, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
1981 “Classical Styles—Two Lectures,” New York Studio School, New York, NY
1979 “Narrative and Structure Ten Lectures,” Parson’s School of Design, New York, NY
1977 “Giacometti’s Painting,” Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
1976 “Giacometti’s Painting,” Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
“Giacometti: Frontality and Cubism,” as participant, with James Lord and Michael Brenson, in Giacometti seminar, Haverford College, Haverford, PA
1975 “Modern Art—Six Lectures,” Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ “The Biblical Subject ’Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife’ In Art, with Special Reference to the Late Works of Gaugain,” Haverford College, Haverford, PA
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS BY JONATHAN SILVER
1990 “Reviews: New York—William Tucker [William Tucker’s Bronze Sculpture at the David McKee Gallery in New York City],” ARTnews, vol. 89, no. 1 (January), p. 160.
1988 “Hidden Faces [Letter to the Editor],” New York Times, September 11, 1988, p. H12 (on Michael Brenson’s article “Faces in the Shadows: What Do They Mean? New York Times, July 24).
1986 “Giacometti on the Couch: A Biography,” Art News, vol. 85, no. 3 (March ), p. 43.
1983 “David Smith’s Classical Cubism,” Art News, February
1976 “200 Years of American Sculpture at the Whitney Museum,” Art News, Summer
1974 “Agostini at Haverford,” Art News, April “Giacometti: Frontality and Cubism,” Art News, November “The Sculpture of Elie Nadelman,” Art News, November
1973 Review of Larry Rivers by Sam Hunter, The Print Collector’s Newsletter
VISITING CRITIC POSITIONS
1986 The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC
1982 New York Studio School, New York, NY
1979 New York Studio School, New York, NY
1978 Haverford College, Haverford, PA
1977 New York Studio School, New York, NY Haverford College, Haverford, PA
1976 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
1975 Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
SELECTED COLLECTIONS Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN (Wounded Amazon II installed in Sculpture Garden, September 1988)
NYNEX, New York, NY [NYNEX was acquired by Bell Atlantic Corporation 8/14/1997)
Thurston Twigg-Smith, Hawaii
City of Baltimore, Maryland (Hopkins Plaza, Birth of Venus, 1984, bronze, Gift to the city by the Municipal Art Society, January 1989)
Weatherspoon Art Museum, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC