William Brice

William Brice
Born	(1921-04-23)April 23, 1921 New York City, U.S.
Died	March 3, 2008(2008-03-03) (aged 86) California, U.S.
Known for	Abstract expressionism, Painting

William Arnstein, professionally William Brice (April 23, 1921 – March 3, 2008) was an American artist known for his large-scale abstract paintings.

Biography

Born to actress

brothers were frequent visitors.

William's talent was recognized early, and even in childhood, he had the services of a private art tutor. Important influences included then-active artists Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso (one of whose works Brice acquired at the age of fourteen).

Their mother, pursuing a career in radio, moved them to

. His work was characterized by expert draughtsmanship. He is particularly remembered for the "classic modernism" of his late work, in which masses reminiscent of ancient ruins figure prominently, inspired in part by an important trip to Greece in 1970.

From 1948 until 1952, he taught at the

, continuing until his retirement in 1991, where he was a beloved teacher, and mentored generations of artists, for whom he "offered a connection to European Modernism."

Brice's work is part of the permanent collections of such major museums as the

in New York City.

At age 86, he suffered injuries in a fall and never regained consciousness before dying at the

He was survived by his wife, Shirley Bardeen, whom he had married in 1942, their son, John, and two grandsons.

References

• Marika Herskovic, American Abstract and Figurative Expressionism: Style Is Timely Art Is Timeless (New York School Press, 2009.)
  ISBN 978-0-9677994-2-1
  . pp. 48–51
• Marika Herskovic, American Abstract Expressionism of the 1950s An Illustrated Survey, (New York School Press, 2003.)
  ISBN 0-9677994-1-4
  , pp. 50–53

External links

• Biography and images from exhibitions at LA Louver gallery
• Biographical Summary at Crown Point Press
• William Brice at Find a Grave