Burton Silverman
| Burton Silverman | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1928 (age 89–90) Brooklyn, New York City |
| Nationality | American |
| Education |
The High School of Music & Art Art Students League |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Known for | Painting, Drawing |
| Notable work | Aqualung cover |
| Movement | Classical Realism |
| Website |
www |
Burton Silverman (born 1928)[1] is an American painter known for his Classical realist portraits of working-class people.
Early life and education
Silverman was born in Brooklyn. He studied at The High School of Music & Art (where he was classmates with fellow realist painter Harvey Dinnerstein)[2] and the Art Students League.[1] He graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in art history.[2]
Career
In 1954, Silverman became a friend of Soviet intelligence agent Wiliam Fisher (better known as Rudolf Abel) who lived in New York City as artist Emil Goldfus and was arrested in 1957.[3]
Silverman painted the cover of the 1971 Jethro Tull album Aqualung. It features a watercolour portrait of a long-haired, bearded man in shabby clothes. The band's Ian Anderson recalls posing for a photograph for the painting, though Silverman claims it was a self-portrait. The artwork was commissioned and purchased by Chrysalis Records head Terry Ellis. Silverman claims the art was only licensed for use as an album cover, and not for merchandising; and approached the band seeking remuneration for its further use. Silverman and Anderson have different accounts of level of enmity involved in this. The original artwork for both the front and back covers are now privately owned by an unknown family, apparently having been stolen from a London hotel room.[4][5]
Silverman taught for many years at New York City's Art Students League.[1] He has also taught at the School of Visual Arts and given private lessons out of his Upper West Side studio.[2]
Public exhibitions
- The Realist View, National Arts Club, with Harvey Dinnerstein, David Levine, Aaron Shikler, and four other artists, 1961
- The Intimate Eye: The Drawings of Burton Silverman, Brigham Young Museum, Butler Institute of Art, 2007
- Realism Recovered, Miller Museum of Jewish Art, 2010
- Burton Silverman: The Humanist Spirit, Hofstra University Museum, 2011
- Portraits, Inc., New York City, 2016 — solo exhibition of drawings
References
- 1 2 3 Goldberg, Ira. "Interviews: In Search of the Humane: An Interview with Burton Silverman," Linea (OCTOBER 1, 2010).
- 1 2 3 Malafronte, Allison. "In the Studio: Burton Silverman," Newington-Cropsey Cultural Studies Center. Accessed Nov. 2, 2016.
- ↑ Ward, Nathan. "The Spy of Cadman Plaza," New York Times (Apr. 26, 2009).
- ↑ Lawson, Dom; Donlevy, Michael (2011). "The Last Gasp". Classic Rock Presents Prog. Classic Rock (15): 34–45.
- ↑ "The painter behind Jethro Tull's Aqualung cover is still haunted by its success". The Outline. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
