James Rizzi is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 pop art

Pop art

Pop art is an art movement that emerged in the mid 1950s in Britain and in the late 1950s in the United States. Pop art challenged tradition by asserting that an artist's use of the mass-produced visual commodities of popular culture is contiguous with the perspective of fine art...

ist who was born and raised in Brooklyn

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...

, New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

. He currently resides and works in a studio/loft in the SoHo

SoHo

SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...

 section of Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

.

Education and Technique

James Rizzi studied Fine Arts at the University of Florida at Gainesville, Florida. He came up with the idea of 3D multiples now mostly associated with his name when, having taken classes in painting, printmaking and sculpturing, he had to hand in grade work for all three subjects, but only had time for doing one. So he created an etching, printed it twice, handcolored it, and mounted parts of the one print on top of the other, using wire as a means of adding depth. Having received good grades from all three teachers, he stuck with the idea and developed it further.
Later in his life he got married to Gabriale Hamill. Gaby Hamill was a famous fashion designer. Then they got divorced and Gaby got remarried to Arnold Barkus. They adopted a boy and named him Ally.

Artist Bio

Year	Projects
1973	Rizzi graduated from University of Florida University of Florida The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...  and had his first exhibitions in outdoor art shows in Washington Square Park Washington Square Park Washington Square Park is one of the best-known of New York City's 1,900 public parks. At 9.75 acres , it is a landmark in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village, as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity...  and Brooklyn Heights Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Brooklyn Heights is a culturally diverse neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Originally referred to as 'Brooklyn Village', it has been a prominent area of Brooklyn since 1834. As of 2000, Brooklyn Heights sustained a population of 22,594 people. The neighborhood is part of... , New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... .
1975	Design of a 150 ft. outdoor mural in New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...  (the building was demolished in 1985).
1976	Participation in the exhibition "Thirty Years of American Printmarking, including the 20th National Print Exhibition" at the Brooklyn Museum Brooklyn Museum The Brooklyn Museum is an encyclopedia art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum holds New York City's second largest art collection with roughly 1.5 million works.... .
1980	Rizzi designed the album cover artwork for the first album of Tom Tom Club Tom Tom Club Tom Tom Club is an American new wave band founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, both also known for being bandmembers of Talking Heads.-Biography:... .
1981/83	Rizzi created the animation for two music video clips of Tom Tom Club Tom Tom Club Tom Tom Club is an American new wave band founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, both also known for being bandmembers of Talking Heads.-Biography:... .
1987	Japanese television produces a film about Rizzi.
1988	The first book about Rizzi is being published: "James Rizzi - 3D Constructions".
1988-90	Various design projects in Japan.
1992	The second book about Rizzi is being published: Glenn O'Brien, "Rizzi".
1993	Rizzi designs the ring coat for German boxer Henry Maske Henry Maske Henry Maske is a German boxer, one of Germany's most popular sports figures.-Amateur career:Maske was an Olympic Gold Medalist 1988 in Seoul for East Germany... .
1994	Design of china for Rosenthal and of a limited MetroCard for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S... .
1996	Publication of "The New York Paintings" book. Rizzi is the official artist of the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in... . He designs the exterior shell of a Boeing 757 Boeing 757 The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...  for Lufthansa Lufthansa Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating... 's charter airline Condor Airlines Condor Airlines Condor Flugdienst GmbH, usually shortened to Condor, is an airline based in Germany, operating scheduled leisure flights to the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, North America and the Caribbean as part of Thomas Cook Group...  - the so-called "Rizzi Bird".
1997	Official artist for the Montreux Jazz Festival Montreux Jazz Festival The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...  in Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... . Retrospective in Brooklyn, New York and declaration of the opening day as "James Rizzi Day" by the mayor of Brooklyn.
1998	Artist of the year, United States Sports Academy United States Sports Academy The United States Sports Academy is an accredited, sport-specific institution located in Daphne, Alabama. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs as well as certificate programs. Founded in 1972, the Academy has provided its sports programs to more than 60 countries around the... . Official Artist, FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... . Official participation in the World Economic Forum World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....  in Davos, Switzerland. Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Florida University of Florida The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906... .
1999	Design of three Volkswagen New Beetle Volkswagen New Beetle -Specifications:*Dimension:**Length: **Width: **Height: **Wheelbase: **Curb weight: *Max speed: 177–210 km/h *Acceleration : 6.5-13.2 sec-Body styles:-Engine choices:-Safety:... s for Volkswagen Volkswagen Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is... . Design of covers for 15 volume Brockhaus encyclopedia.
2000	Participation in CowParade CowParade CowParade is an international public art exhibit that has been featured in major world cities. Fiberglass sculptures of cows are decorated by local artists, and distributed over the city centre, in public places such as train stations, important avenues, and parks. They often feature artwork and... , New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... . Work for UNICEF and the Japanese Railway.
2001	Opening of the "Happy Rizzi House", an office building designed by Rizzi in Braunschweig, Germany.
2002	Front page design for a newspaper in Hamburg, Germany. Design of a Teddy bear Teddy bear The teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. They are usually stuffed with soft, white cotton and have smooth and soft fur. It is an enduring form of a stuffed animal in many countries, often serving the purpose of entertaining children. In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items...  for Steiff. Design of three light railway cars for city of Heilbronn Heilbronn Heilbronn is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is completely surrounded by Heilbronn County and with approximately 123.000 residents, it is the sixth-largest city in the state.... . Official participation in the World Economic Forum World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....  in New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... .
2003	Design of official poster for German public radio (SWR3).
2004	Design of a model New York fire engine for Schuco.
2005	Charity project together with Lions Club Germany and "action medeor" for the victims of the Pakistan earthquake.
2006	Receives "Steiger Award Steiger Award The Steiger Award or Der Steiger is an international award established in 2005 and presented annually by the award organization based in Bochum, Germany. The title translates as The Miner, and reflects the qualities of responsibility, honesty, openness and hard work valued in the North Rhine... " in Dortmund Dortmund Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union.... , Germany, together with Mohamed ElBaradei, Claude Nobs Claude Nobs Claude Nobs is the founder and general manager of the famous Montreux Jazz Festival.-Biography:... , José Carreras José Carreras Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini... , Jean-Claude Juncker Jean-Claude Juncker Jean-Claude Juncker is a Luxembourg politician, 23rd and current Prime Minister of Luxembourg, since 20 January 1995. He is the longest standing head of government of any European Union state... , and others. Publication of his latest book titled "James Rizzi. Artwork 1993-2006", by Glenn O'Brien and Mark Weinberg. Design of official poster for the opening of the New York golf course on Governors Island Governors Island Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City... .
2007	Children's charity project together with Peter Maffay Peter Maffay Peter Alexander Makkay better known as Peter Maffay is a German musician.- Biography :Born in Brasov, Romania, the son of a German , he was 14 when his family relocated to his parents' Germany in 1963. In the same year, he started his first band, The Dukes... . Joint project with fellow artist, Volker Kühn. Rizzi gets honored with the "Outstanding Alumni Award" by the College of Fine Arts at the University of Florida University of Florida The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...  at Gainesville, FL, his former art school. Design of album cover for Bob Sinclar Bob Sinclar Bob Sinclar, originally spelled "Sinclair" - , is a French record producer, House music DJ, remixer and owner of the label Yellow Productions.- Career history :... 's 2007 album "Soundz of Freedom".
2008	Rizzi is the first living artist ever to be commissioned by the German government to create official postage stamps for Germany. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Artexpo New York, Rizzi is inducted into the inaugural "Artexpo Hall of Fame". Retrospective exhibition of Rizzi's work in the Rheingold Hall in Mainz Mainz Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire... , Germany - the largest Rizzi exhibition ever with over 1,000 pieces of artwork on display, and over 50,000 paying visitors.

Style

Rizzi is most famous for his 3D artwork, "especially the large, elaborate prints and teeming anthropomorphic cityscapes. His merry maximalism and delight in delirious detail and elaborate minutiae created a true art brand, a trademark style as recognizable as any in the world". Recently, he has also returned to painting. His "latest paintings combine his Picasso meets Hanna-Barbera drawing style with an increasingly chromatic palette and a complex graphic structure that simultaneously evokes cubism and the most sophisticated Amerindian friezes." (Quotes from Glenn O'Brien, Foreword to "James Rizzi", 2006, with kind permission of the publisher).

Charity Projects

• James J. Rizzi Scholarship Fund - The James J. Rizzi Scholarship Fund for the School of Art at the University of Florida.
• RTL Spendenmarathon - Design of logo for German television children's charity.
• SWR Herzenssache - Donation of artwork for German radio children's charity.
• Gone with the wind Charity - Donation of a complete edition of artwork to the German Lions Club Krefeld Rheintor.
• Peter Maffay: Encounters - an alliance for children - Cooperation with Peter Maffay
  Peter Maffay
  Peter Alexander Makkay better known as Peter Maffay is a German musician.- Biography :Born in Brasov, Romania, the son of a German , he was 14 when his family relocated to his parents' Germany in 1963. In the same year, he started his first band, The Dukes...
  
   for his children's charity "Encounters" and the Lakota http://www.lakhota.eu Circle School in South Dakota
  South Dakota
  South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
  
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External links

• www.james-rizzi.com - Official website of James Rizzi

Books

• James Rizzi: New York. Prestel 1996, ISBN 3-7913-1644-3
• James Rizzi, Peter Bührer: Mein New York Kochbuch. Hahn 1997, ISBN 3-87287-432-2
• James Rizzi, Peter Bührer: American Cookies and more. Südwest 2000, ISBN 3-517-06323-1
• James Rizzi, Glenn O`Brien: James Rizzi. Artwork 1993-2006, Art28 2006, ISBN 3-9811238-0-8