Richard Merkin
Encyclopedia
Richard Merkin was an American painter
and illustrator
.
Merkin was born in Brooklyn
, New York
, in 1938, and held degrees from Syracuse University
and the Rhode Island School of Design
. In 1962–63 he received a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Fellowship in Painting and, in 1975, The Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award from The National Institute of Arts and Letters.
Merkin began teaching at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1963 and remained there for nearly 40 years during which time he built his reputation in New York. He is represented in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art
, The Smithsonian Institution
and the Whitney Museum, among others. Merkin had been a contributing editor for Vanity Fair
since 1986 and a regular contributor of illustrations to The New Yorker
since 1988, as well as Harper's and The New York Times Sunday Magazine. From 1988–1991, he wrote a monthly style column for Gentlemen's Quarterly. In 1995, he illustrated the book Leagues Apart: The Men and Times of the Negro Baseball Leagues, by Larry Ritter. He wrote the text and captions for The Tijuana Bibles (Simon & Schuster, 1997). He appeared on the cover of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
album, (back row, right of center).
Merkin was also an avid collector of vintage pornography and horse genitalia, and part of his collection was published in "Velvet Eden - The Richard Merkin Collection of Erotic Photography" (Methuen, 1979). It is possible that his name reinforced the use of the term merkin to describe a pubic wig, that of which was later used for his daughter "Nikola Tesla
"'s photo-shoot.
Merkin died on September 5, 2009, after a long period of declining health. He was 70 years old.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
.
Merkin was born 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...
, in 1938, and held degrees from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
and the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
. In 1962–63 he received a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Fellowship in Painting and, in 1975, The Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award from The National Institute of Arts and Letters.
Merkin began teaching at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1963 and remained there for nearly 40 years during which time he built his reputation in New York. He is represented in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
, The Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
and the Whitney Museum, among others. Merkin had been a contributing editor for Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
since 1986 and a regular contributor of illustrations to The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
since 1988, as well as Harper's and The New York Times Sunday Magazine. From 1988–1991, he wrote a monthly style column for Gentlemen's Quarterly. In 1995, he illustrated the book Leagues Apart: The Men and Times of the Negro Baseball Leagues, by Larry Ritter. He wrote the text and captions for The Tijuana Bibles (Simon & Schuster, 1997). He appeared on the cover of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
album, (back row, right of center).
Merkin was also an avid collector of vintage pornography and horse genitalia, and part of his collection was published in "Velvet Eden - The Richard Merkin Collection of Erotic Photography" (Methuen, 1979). It is possible that his name reinforced the use of the term merkin to describe a pubic wig, that of which was later used for his daughter "Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
"'s photo-shoot.
Merkin died on September 5, 2009, after a long period of declining health. He was 70 years old.
External links
- New Yorker - A slide show of illustrations
- Carrie Haddad Gallery - Biography and images of Merkin's works