Fay Kleinman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fay Kleinman
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Fay Kleinman alongside her mixed-media (oil and paper) work, The World Around Me.
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| Born | November 29, 1912 New York, New York
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| Died | February 21, 2012 (aged 99) Ypsilanti Michigan
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | American Artists School |
| Known for | Painting |
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Notable work
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Zayde series, The World Around Me |
| Spouse(s) | Jack Skurnick, Emanuel Levenson |
Fay Kleinman (born November 29, 1912 – died February 21, 2012) was an American artist. She was known for her paintings. Fay also used her married names, Fay Skurnick and Fay Levenson.
Most of Fay's artworks were made with oil paints on canvas. She also created art using different materials together, called mixed-media. Some of her pieces were watercolor paintings. Her art was shown in museums in New York and Massachusetts. It was also displayed in art galleries across the United States. Fay helped start the Becket Arts Center in Becket, Massachusetts.
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About Fay Kleinman's Life
Fay Kleinman was born in the Bronx, New York. She lived there until 1958. Then she moved to Brooklyn Heights, another part of New York City. In 1964, she moved to Becket, Massachusetts. Later, in 1988, she moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan. She wanted to live closer to her daughter there.
Fay's Art Education
Fay studied art at the American Artists School. She learned how to paint large wall murals from Anton Refregier. She also took painting classes with Jean Liberte. For sculpture, she learned from Milton Hebald. Fay also took classes through other programs. These included the WPA, City College of New York, and the National Academy of Design.
Painting Through the Years
Fay Kleinman kept painting even when she was in her nineties. She painted pictures of her daughter and her two grandsons. One painting shows her grandson, Randy Napoleon, when he was ten years old. The Ypsilanti District Library in Ypsilanti, Michigan, bought this painting in 2005. It hangs in front of the children's book section.
Another painting of Randy and some paintings of her other grandson, Brian Napoleon, were shown in 2006. This art show was at the Ann Arbor District Library. It was called "Ordinary People." Fay wanted to show the special qualities of everyday people in her art.
Types of Art Fay Created
Besides portraits, Fay painted many other things. She created abstract art, which uses shapes and colors to show feelings. She also painted still lifes, which are pictures of objects like fruit or flowers. Landscapes, or pictures of nature, were another type of art she made.
Fay was very well-known for her "Zayde" series. These paintings came from sketches her father made for her daughter. Her daughter, who was three at the time, would make up stories for her grandfather. He would then draw pictures based on these stories. The "Zayde" series was first shown in 1971. This was at the Becket Arts Center in Massachusetts. People compared these paintings to the works of Paul Klee. They feature playful and imaginative figures and places.
Later Career and Exhibitions
Fay Kleinman sold many paintings later in her life. She had sold art through galleries in New York and New England cities for years. In 2007, the University of Michigan bought one of her mixed-media self-portraits. It shows a woman reading a newspaper. This painting is now permanently displayed. You can see it in the University's new East Ann Arbor Health Center.
After Fay passed away in August 2012, some of her paintings were shown. They were displayed at Gallery 55+ in Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan School of Art & Design also held a special show. This show looked back at Fay's entire career. More than 300 of her paintings were displayed. They showed her art from the early 1930s until 2010. That was when she finished her last full painting. Local news praised her painting, The World Around Me. They said it was painted with a "directness" that showed how art can reflect truth and honesty.
Family and Legacy
Fay Kleinman was married twice. Her first husband was Jack Skurnick. He passed away in 1952. Jack was a record producer and a violinist. He was the father of Fay's daughter, Davida, also known as Davi Napoleon.
Later, Fay married Emanuel Levenson. He was a pianist and a music director for an opera company. Emanuel also taught music at The New School in New York City. He helped Fay start the Becket Arts Center.
Fay's grandson, Randy Napoleon, is a musician. In 2021, he released an album called "Rust Belt Roots." He used a photo of Fay's painting, Ypsilanti Blues, for the album cover. In 2022, Randy Napoleon released another album, "Puppets." He used Fay's painting Masks as the cover art for that album too.
