Blog Posts by Subject: Painting

Our March poetry workshop discussed the New York School of poets, their influences, their style, and their writing habits as it captured the spirit of the 1950s and 60s in New York City. Taking some of these habits, we wrote poetry, trying for a slice of life or a walk down a New York street, using drips and splashes of collaged ideas.

Today's Exhibition Feature of the Week comes from Tammi Lawson, our in-house Curator of the Art and Artifacts Division. She shares what inspired her to include the impactful artwork you see in our latest exhibition, Curators' Choice: Black Life Matters.

The Mulberry Street Library is proud to host the art exhibition "Love, Masks, and Flowers" by Greenwich Village based artist Rossella BLUE Mocerino. A veteran exhibitor of NYPL Libraries, BLUE brings extraodinary color and verve to her work, on display through June 27th, 2015. I spoke with the artist about her work.

Although we may not know for sure that a certain artist consulted a certain manual, they provide important clues. In a way, these books tell a story about the history of art from the point of view of the practitioners.

On view through April 30th, 2014 at the Mulberry Street Library is the stunning collaborative effort of five teaching artists who participated in NYPL/Lifetime Arts Creative Aging classes for Older Adults. 'Artists in the Library' curated by teaching artist Sabra Friedman, showcases the work of Mary Didoardo, Sabra Friedman, John Mendelsohn, Josh Millis, and Antonia Perez.

On view through February 28, 2014, the Mulberry Street Library is proud to present the work of multi-talented artist, Yuko K. Her solo show, Colors and Icons, shows a wide range of Yuko's artistic interests—graphic iconic paintings that speak to questions of belief, meditation, and peace, as well as colorful abstracts that leave the viewer delighted and perhaps even, unnerved. I spoke to Yuko K. about her art work, her methods, and her inspirations.

On view through February 28th, 2014 Muriel Taub Glantzman's dynamic jazzy paintings will be on display in the Great Room of Mulbery Street Library. I had the privilege of visiting the artist in her Upper West Side studio. I spoke with Muriel about her work.

How long have you been painting?

About 70 years.

Where and with whom did you study?

I first studied with Moses Soyer in 1941-2. I attended Parsons school of 

At 78 years old, Llyn Foulkes is due a wider audience and encouraging recognition. He is a painter and a musician, but his paintings often take on sculptural qualities and collage, while his interest in music has developed from leading a crowded ensemble into a one-man band extravaganza on his homemade instrument, called the Machine. To celebrate his artistic accomplishments, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles put together a retrospective exhibition and an accompanying 

One of the goals of exhibiting art in our library is to highlight the talents of local community residents. Fred Gutzeit is not only a frequent library patron at the Mulberry Street Library, but a vibrant visual artist who wanted to contribute his work so that other library-goers could enjoy and contemplate art during their visits here. Fred's been making art in this neighborhood for over 40 years. Much of his work has been heralded by the press, and exhibited in galleries in SoHo and the East Village. I 

In recent decades, much has been said about the demographic changes that New York City shares with the rest of the world. Yes, we are getting older!

One widespread response has been a surge of programs to promote creativity in mid- and later life. NYPL has happily participated in these efforts, especially since 2010 when we started partnering with Lifetime Arts Inc. to offer our first Creative Aging courses, which took place in six branch libraries. Each course was taught by a professional teaching artist 

Mulberry Street Library is proud to present the art exhibition "Beauty in Reading," featuring the photography of Kamia J. Funchess and the watercolors of Mychel Russell-Ward. The works are on view throughout the library through June 30th, 2012, and capture people caught in the act — of reading.

Kamia J. Funchess is a freelance photographer from Harlem with over 10 years of experience. Her clients include both local and international 

Since April 5th, the Jefferson Market Library has been hosting a series of watercolor classes for twenty adults, all aged 55+. This course, led by teaching artist Josh Millis, is funded by a grant from Lifetime Arts. The participants have been working on paintings inspired by Jefferson Market and other Village landmarks. This week, I spoke with students Leo, Judy, and Noreen, all regular patrons of Jefferson Market, to find out what they are 

Hey there summer campers!

We are working on a great new blog post that includes making your own mini loom! Until then, check out a blog post from last year, Graphic Ts! Enjoy!

Have you ever gone to a trendy clothing store, looked at very cool graphic tees, and said, "I could totally make that!"

I've had these moments a lot (I'm looking at you Urban Outfitters!) and finally decided to become an amateur T-shirt designer, using a fun project that I found in Todd Oldham's easy-to-follow craft book

Shortly after landing in New York City from Greece, Fotis Flevotomos walked into Mid-Manhattan Library on June 11, 2011. As Brigid Cahalan, The New York Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, was showing him the space in the Corner Room where his art would adorn the shelves from June 11 through June 23, I was staffing the Popular Library Desk and thought that he must have been jet-lagged — if he was, that didn't stop him from installing all of his pieces that day. Flevotomos's art was on display as part of the Low Vision and Blindness Resource Day.

Something surreal is happening on the lower level of Mulberry Street Library this summer: Haitian-American artist Christophe Clavier has five paintings on display. Influenced by sources such as the surrealists, French classical painting, and Roman mythology, the artist conjures up a world of mystical imagery.

Clavier was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti in 1977. He began drawing at the age of six, inspired by the drawings in an old 

Jerilyn is a painter of American history, and teaches drawing at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers and Spring Studio, and collage at The Cooper Union Department of Continuing Education.

Lynda Barry, most renowned for her comic strips and graphic novels featuring the character of Marlys, has written and illustrated two different books that incorporate cartoon characters into an unusual and inspiring exploration of the creative process.  One focuses more on writing and the other focuses more on artwork, but the graphic novel format means that fans of words and pictures alike will be able to appreciate both books.

What It Is

In 2008, Lynda Barry published a book that asked the 

Village artist Elliott Gilbert finds his inspiration in the landscapes and ancient buildings of France. And sometimes he finds his inspiration closer to home, as in this work City Hall Park.

He is exhibiting 15 pieces at the Hudson Park Library through the end of February 2011.

Pull out your black turtleneck and a beret! The Musuem of Modern Art presents through April 25, 2011 the exhibit Abstract Expressionist New York. Whether or not you think a painting by Jackson Pollock is a work of genius, or something your kid brother could easily do, this exhibit is a treat for the eyes. Suitable for the whole family, consider a visit sometime during or after the Holiday season.

The Abstract Expressionists (Arshile