Ephraim Rubenstein : about

 

Ephraim Rubenstein was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1956. He received his B.A. in Art History from Columbia University and his M.F.A. in Painting from Columbia University’s School of the Arts. In addition, he attended the Brooklyn Museum Art School, where he studied with Francis Cunningham, the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts, with Harvey Dinnerstein, and the Art Students League, with Robert Beverly Hale.

Mr Rubenstein has had eleven one-person exhibitions in NY; seven at Tibor de Nagy, one at Tatistcheff & Co and three at George Billis Gallery. He has exhibited at the Butler Institute of American Art, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Maier Museum of Art, and the National Academy of Design, where he won the Emil and Dines Carlsen Prize in painting. His work is represented in numerous public and private collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Exxon Corporation, and Deloitte & Touche. His work has been featured in American Artist Magazine, American Heritage Magazine and Architectural Digest, among others. Several of his paintings have been on loan to the United States State Department as part of its Art in Embassies Program.

Mr. Rubenstein is an active teacher, as well. He was Associate Professor of Art at the University of Richmond from 1987–1998, where he received the Distinguished Educator Award and The Commonwealth’s Outstanding Faculty Award. He taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, Maryland Institute College of Art and the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts. He is currently on the faculty of The Art Students League of New York, where he teaches Life Drawing and Artistic Anatomy, the Seminar in the Literature of Art and numerous workshops in various aspects of painting, drawing and materials. He also teaches at Columbia University’s Department of Narrative Medicine, where he teaches the Seminar in the Literature of Art to graduate students in Narrative Medicine, as well as Life Drawing to first year medical students at the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

• Beatrice and Sidney Laufman Award, National Academy of Design, 183rd Annual Exhibition, 2008
• Elected Member, Century Association, 2007
• Invited Artist, Forbes Trinchera Ranch Residency, Ft. Garland, Colorado, 2006
• Emil and Dines Carlsen Award, National Academy of Design, 179th Annual Exhibition, 2004
• U.S. State Department, Art in Embassies Program, with paintings in Ankara, Turkey and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 2004
• Outstanding Faculty Award, State of Virginia, State Council of Higher Education, 1995
• Distinguished Educator Award, University of Richmond, 1993
• Christian Johnson Endeavor Fund, grant for the development of interdisciplinary studies course, “Artists’ Writings,” 1997
• University of Richmond, PETE grant for the development of interdisciplinary studies course, “Music and the Visual Arts.”, 1995
• Henry Evans Traveling Fellowship (Columbia University) to study painting in England, 1978
• National Academy of Design, Merit Scholarship, 1979
• Brooklyn Museum Art School, Max Beckmann Scholarship, 1978-79

• Deloitte & Touche (large-scale painting of the Jefferson Memorial for International Headquarters, Washington D.C.,) 1998
• Jepson Alumni Center (major painting for landmark Bottomley house), University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, 1997
• Holocaust Memorial, Emek Sholom Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, 1995

New York

• George Billis Gallery, 2014, 2010, 2009
• Tatistcheff & Co, 2000
• Tibor de Nagy Gallery, 1997, 95, 94, 92, 90, 88, 86
• The Art Students League of New York, 2005

Maryland

• Paintings & Pastels, Lee Gallery (Kingsville, MD), 2022 – 2023
• The Delaplaine Art Center, 2021
• Stone Tower Gallery, Glen Echo Park Partnership, 2021, 2014
• The Quickening Image (with David Dodge Lewis), Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 2015
• Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 2013

Chicago

• The Ottinger Gallery, 2002

Virginia

• “The Quickening Image” (with David Dodge Lewis), Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, Farmville, 2015
• Chroma Projects, Charlottesville, 2015
• Randolph-Macon College, 2001
• Roanoke College, 1995
• University of Richmond, 1994, 1991
• Peninsula Fine Arts Center, 1991

Baltimore

• Maryland Institute College of Art, 2002
• Sheppard Art Gallery, 2003, 2001, 1999

New Jersey

• Laurel Tracey Gallery, 2005, 2002

North Carolina

• “The Quickening Image” (with David Dodge Lewis), East Carolina University, Greenville, 2015

New York

• Instructor Salon 2022, Art Students League of New York, 2022
• Silver: A Metalpoint Group Exhibition, DFN Projects with Artists Equity, 2021–22
• The Annual Instructors Salon 2021, Art Students League of New York, 2021
• The Annual Instructors Exhibition 2020, Art Students League of New York, 2020
• New York Design Center, “The League of Masters: Past + Present,” 2019
• The Art Students League of New York, “The Art Students League Instructors’ Exhibition 2019,” 2019
• National Academy of Design, “Annual Exhibition”, 2008, 04, 2000, 98, 94, 84
• Forbes Gallery, “Into the Heart of the Southwest”, 2007
• Art Students League of New York, “Contemporary Metalpoint Drawing”, 2010
• National Arts Club, “Contemporary Silverpoint Drawings”, 2013
• ACA Galleries, “Continuum”, 2005
• Tatistcheff & Co, 2000, 99
• James Graham & Sons, “Topography and Imagination”, 1995
• Tibor de Nagy Gallery, “Still Life”, 1987; “Manifestations of the Figure”, 1985
• Salander-O’Reilly, Benefit Shows for the Art Students League, 2004, 03, 02

Ohio

• Butler Institute of American Art, “Annual Midyear Show”, 1989, 84

Virginia

• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, “Harmony and Discord”, 1990
• Maier Museum of Art, “Annual Exhibition”, 1990
• Virginia Historical Society, “The Virginia Landscape”, 2000
• Principle Gallery, Alexandria, “Streets”, 2012; “Still Life”, 2013
• McLean Project for the Arts, “The Sentient Object”, 2001
• Longwood College, “Painters’ Painters: Virginia Invitational”, 1995
• Peninsula Fine Arts Center, “The Allegorical Table”, 1993

Maryland

• Evergreen House, Johns Hopkins University, “Conversations”, 2003
• Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, “Still Life”, 2012
• Government House, “Works by Contemporary Maryland Artists”, 1999

Indiana

• Evansville Museum of Art, “The Luster of Silver: Contemporary Metalpoint Drawings”, 2009
• Evansville Museum of Art: “Figuratively Speaking”, 2011

Charlotte

• Hidell Brooks Gallery, “Introductions 2009”

Pennsylvania

• Gross McCleaf Gallery, “Still Life”, 2007
• Lafayette College, “Neo Romantics”, 1989
• Southern Alleghenies Museum, “The Face of the Land”, 1988

Wisconsin

• Rahr-West Museum, “Still Life”, 1987

Los Angeles

• Jan Baum Gallery, “Landscape/Elements”, 1986

Boston

• Concord Art Association, “George Nick Selects”, 2004
• Bank of Boston, “Plein Air”, 1986

Arkansas

• Arkansas Arts Center, “Collectors’ Show 2000”

Kansas

• Emporia State University, “National Invitational Drawing Exhibition”, 2000

Oklahoma

• M A Doran Gallery, “National Realism Exhibition”, 2010

Wilmington

• Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, “Conversations”, 2004

Hartford

• Joseloff Gallery, University of Hartford, “Conversations”, 2004

Rochester

• Bevier Gallery, Rochester Institute of Technology, “Conversations”, 2004

• Metropolitan Museum of Art, (Museum Purchase, 1986, by William Lieberman)
• Evansville Museum of Art
• Washington County Museum of Fina Arts
• Forbes Collection, New York
• Morgan Stanley
• Exxon Corporation
• Mutual Insurance Company of New York
• DeLoitte and Touche
• Jefferson Bank, Philadelphia
• Columbia University, Faculty House
• The Art Students League of New York
• Kingsborough Community College
• John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Florida Power and Light Company, Juno Beach
• Sterling Software, Dallas, Texas
• Bowman and Brooke,  Richmond, Virginia
• Jewish Community Center, Richmond, Virginia
• Interfaith Chaplaincy Center, University of Richmond
• Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, Longwood College, Farmville, Virginia

• American Arts Quarterly, Spring 2014. “Magnifying Stillness: Locating Meaning in the work of Ephraim Rubenstein.”
• Artists Magazine, July/August 2012, Judith Fairly. “Art Among the Ruins.”
• American Arts Quarterly, Spring 2009. “Ephraim Rubenstein.”
• American Artist Magazine, July/August 2007, Sharpe, William. “Still-Life Portraits: The Book-Filled Art of Ephraim Rubenstein.”
• American Artist Magazine, March 2007, Doherty, Steve. “Into the Heart of the Southwest: 20 Painters Interpret the Forbes Trinchera Ranch.”
• American Art Collector, October 2005, “Talent-spotting at the Art Students League Anniversary Exhibitions.”
• American Artist Magazine, March 2002, Baxter, Kathleen. “Taming the Beast (The Agamemnon Series of Ephraim Rubenstein).”
• American Heritage Magazine, November, 2000, Ephraim Rubenstein, “My Grandfather’s War.”
• Arte, April 1995, Planca, Elisabetta. “Paesaggisti Americani: un Paradiso Neoromantico.”
• Architectural Digest, May 1993, Rosenblum, Robert, “Art: Contemporary Romantic Landscapes.”
• American Arts Quarterly, Spring 1993, Johnson, Charles W. Jr., “Renewal and Natural Order: The Art of Ephraim Rubenstein.”
• The Gettysburg Review, Winter 1989, Stitt, Peter, ed.  “Paintings by Ephraim Rubenstein.”

• Aristides, Juliette, Figure Drawing Atelier: An Instructional Sketchbook Monacelli Studio Press (2019), 94–95.
• Artner, Alan. “An Art that Dryly Memorializes,” Chicago Tribune (Feb. 8, 2002)
• Bedekian, Lory, The Book of Lamenting. Reproduction of Still Life with Burnt Books. Cover. Anhinga Press, 2011
• Brandt, Frederick R. Harmony and Discord: American Landscape Painting Today (exhibition catalogue). Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, 1990.
• Brenson, Michael. “Ephraim Rubenstein.” The New York Times (April 6, 1990).
• de Nagy, Tibor. Rilke and Rubenstein (introductory catalogue essay). Ephraim Rubenstein: The Rilke Series. Marsh Gallery, University of Richmond, VA, 1994.
• Capozzi, James D. Beside Quiet Waters. Reproduction of Two Trees, James River. Cover. Continuum, 1999.
• Hayes, Julie. Translation, Subjectivity and Culture in France and England 1600–1800. Reproduction of Still Life with Books, Mirrors and Lenses, I. Cover, Stanford University Press, 2009.
• Henry, Gerritt. Neo-Romantics (exhibition catalogue). Lafayette College Art Gallery, Williams Center for the Arts, Easton, Pennsylvania, 1989.
• Holladay, Deborah, ed. Tributary: 3000 Years in the Course of Art (exhibition catalogue). Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, Virginia, 1989.
• Johnson, Stephen A. Plein Air: An Exhibition of Landscape Paintings and Drawings (exhibition catalogue). Bank of Boston, Boston, 1986.
• Johnson, Charles W., Jr. Renewal and Natural Order: The Art of Ephraim Rubenstein. American Arts Quarterly, Spring 1993, pp. 32–35.
• Johnson, Charles W., Jr. Mark Rhodes and Ephraim Rubenstein: Sculpture, Painting, and Drawing (exhibition catalogue). Marsh Gallery, University of Richmond, 1988.
• Jones, Gavin, Failure and the American Writer: A Literary History. Reproduction of Discarded Books III. Cover. Cambridge University Press, 2014
• Jones, Suzanne, ed. Growing Up in the South. Reproduction of Abandoned House, Edwardsville, Virginia (1987). Cover. Mentor Books, 1991.
• Kazin, Alfred. Fear of the City; 1783–1983. Reproduction of “Vacant Lot, Columbus Avenue” (1977), American Heritage Magazine, Feb/March 1983, pp. 14–15.
• Kelly, James C. and William M. S. Rasmussen. The Virginia Landscape: A Cultural History (exhibition catalogue) Howell Press 2000, pp. 181–2.
• Körte, Mona. Essbare Lettern, Brennendes Buch. Reproduction of Still Life with Burnt Books. Cover. Wilhelm Fink, 2012
• Lee, John Post. Still Life: Painting, Sculpture, Drawing (exhibition catalogue). Rahr-West Art Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1987.
• Moldenhauer, Susan. Drawing in Virginia: An Invitational Exhibition by Artists Who Teach (exhibition catalogue). Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA, 1989.
• Orlean, Susan. The Library Book, “Books, Pile XXIV.” Cover. Geulhangari Press, South Korea, 2019
• Parks, John A. “Framing: Professional Artists Tell All.” American Artist, May 2006, pp. 14–20.
• Planca, Elisabetta. “Paesaggisti Americani: un Paradiso Neoromantico.” Arte , April 1995.
• Rosenblum, Robert. “Art: Contemporary Romantic Landscapes.” Architectural Digest 50, no. 50 (May, 1993), pp. 193–230.
• Stitt, Peter, ed. “Paintings by Ephraim Rubenstein.” The Gettysburg Review. (Winter 1989).
• Zona, Louis A. 53rd National Midyear Exhibition: A Tribute to Tibor de Nagy (exhibition catalogue). The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio, 1989.
• “Currents: Works by Cohen, Blank, Feigin, Davidovsky.” Cello I used for cover illustration, compact disc. Centaur records CRC 2248.

• Columbia University, Department of Narrative Medicine, 2011 – present
• The Art Students League of New York, 1999 – present
• The National Academy of Design School of Fine Art, 2004 – 2010
• The Maryland Institute College of Art, 2000 – 2003
• 92nd Street Y, 2002 – 2005
• The Rhode Island School of Design, 1999
• The University of Richmond, Associate Professor of Art (tenured), 1987-1998

• “Never a Day Without A Line: Drawing Foundations and Frontiers”. Panel discussion at the Art Students League of New York, in conjunction with the College Art Association Conference, February 15, 2013
• Speaker,  “Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where are we Going?”, The Art Students League of New York, Lectures & Programs Series, 2005
• Speaker, “Symposium on the Teaching of Edwin Dickinson”, The Art Students League of New York, 2003. Panelists included Francis Cunningham, George Nick, Susan Smith.
• Co-organized Tucker-Boatwright Festival of the Arts, “20th Century Reflections of Romanticism in Music, Poetry and the Visual Arts”, University of Richmond, 1994. Guests included composers Richard Danielpour and Nicholas Maw.
• Co-organized Tucker-Boatwright “Distinguished Lecture Series in Art History”, University of Richmond, 1991. Lectures by art historians, including Norman Bryson, Suzanne P. Blier, Lewis Hyde, Richard Kuhns, Irving Lavin, and Sherman E. Lee.
• Founder and Artistic Director of the “Realism Today” exhibition series at the Marsh Gallery, University of Richmond, 1989-1991.
• Keynote address delivered on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition, “George Tooker:  Paintings and Working Drawings, 1947-1988,” Marsh Gallery, University of Richmond, 1989. (Researched and organized over 40 years of Tooker’s working drawings and preliminary studies.)

• “The Quickening Image”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Summer, 2015 (cover).
• “The Human Presence (Robin Smith)”, The Artist’s Magazine, Jan/Feb 2015.
• “Life is a House”, The Artist’s Magazine, Jan/Feb 2014.
• “Graphite in the Hands of an Indisputable Master (The Drawings of Adolph Menzel)”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Fall, 2009.
• “Studio as Setting: The Paintings of Scott Noel”, American Artist Magazine, May 2009.
• “The Fine Line: A Close Look at Five Contemporary Silverpoint Drawers”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Summer, 2008.
• “The Self in Contemporary Portraits”, American Artist Magazine, October 2008.
• “Understanding Anatomy: Drawing the Neck”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Winter, 2008.
• “Understanding Anatomy: Drawing the Ear”, American Artist Drawing Magazine”, Summer, 2007.
• “Understanding Anatomy: Drawing the Leg”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Spring, 2007.
• “Understanding Anatomy: Drawing the Arm, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Winter, 2007.
• “The Intimate Paintings and Drawings of Mark Karnes”, American Artist Magazine, November, 2007.
• “ ‘The Erotic Frigidaire’: The Academies of Pierre-Paul Prud’hon”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Spring, 2007.
• “The Emergence of Tonal Drawing”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Spring 2006.
• “1,001” Body Parts: Anthony Panzera and the Fine Art of Selectivity”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Fall 2005.
• “An Enigma in the Middle: The Wax Resist Drawings of David Dodge Lewis”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Spring 2005.
• “The Line Made Flesh: Paul Cadmus’ Figure Drawings”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Summer 2005.
• “Continual Investigations: The Figure Drawings of Costa Vavagiakis”, American Artist Drawing Magazine, Summer 2005.
• “With His Ineffable Left Hand: The Drawings of Leonardo da Vinci”, Linea, Spring 2003.
• “My Grandfather’s War”, American Heritage Magazine, November, 2000.
• “Bernard Berenson and the Psychology of Form and Space”, Art & Academe, Visual Arts Press, Mark Salmon, Ed.,Vol. 1, No. 2, Spring, 1989.

• Art Students League of New York on Painting: Lessons and Meditations on Mediums, Styles and Methods, by James L McElhinney, Watson-Guptill, 2015

• “In Search of Cézanne,” Academy Award winning Director Allan Miller.
  Appeared with Paul Resika, Mary Tompkins Lewis, and Calvin Brown.
  2001, The Four Oaks Foundation.
• CBS Sunday Morning Show, January 16, 2005, Peter Paul Rubens Drawing Exhibition, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Jeff Giles, “The Most Instagrammable Neighborhood in America, Before It Was Cool,” New York Times, September 12, 2019.