Larry Rivers
Born Larry Grossberg in the Bronx, Rivers started his career as a jazz saxophonist in 1940. While studying at the Juillard in 1944, a fellow student reportedly introduced Rivers to the work of Georges Braques-sparking an interest in painting. In 1948, he enrolled in the art education program at New York University and received his degree in 1951.
Rivers is a versatile artist who has worked in a wide range of media. Recognized for his interest in historical images and themes, he has also produced a number of collaborative works with other artists, including poets Frank O'Hara and Kenneth Koch and sculptor Jean Tinguely. Additionally, Rivers has designed stage sets, for Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex and for two of LeRoi Jones's plays, and worked with Pierre Gaisseau on the television documentary "Africa and I."
Therese Thau Heyman Posters American Style (New York and Washington, D.C.: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., in association with the National Museum of American Art, 1998
