Peter Krasnow (20 August 1886 – 30 October 1979), born Feivish Reisberg, was a modernist and colorist artist known for his abstract wood sculptures and architectonic hard-edge paintings and drawings which were often based on Hebrew calligraphy and other subjects related to his Jewish heritage. Krasnow lived in Los Angeles for most of his life.[1]

Peter Krasnow
Born
Feivish Reisberg

(1886-08-20)August 20, 1886
Died(1979-10-30)October 30, 1979
OccupationArtist
SpouseRose Bloom

Early life and education

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Born in 1886 in Novohrad-Volynskyi, Russian Empire, he was an apprentice to his father, who was an interior decorator. Krasnow emigrated to the United States in 1907 and graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1916.[2]

Career

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Krasnow first exhibited in the 1920s.[2] He settled in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1922, purchasing the land where he built his home and studio from Edward Weston, who was his friend and a fellow member of the early Los Angeles avant-garde.[3][4] Krasnow lived there for over 50 years.[3] His work was included in the exhibit that launched MOCA. He received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in 1977.[2]

Exhibitions

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Artistic legacy

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In 2000, the Laguna Art Museum acquired over 500 pieces of his work.[5] The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles also has an extensive collection of Krasnow's work and in 2023 mounted the exhibition, Peter Krasnow: Breathing Joy and Light, which focused on the artist's post–World War II paintings.

References

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  1. ^ "Peter Krasnow, 92, Abstract Artist of the 1920s, Dies". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. October 31, 1979. p. 25. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ a b c d e Wilson, William (November 4, 1979). "Krasnow, 92: Anonymity from Fame". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. p. 342. Retrieved April 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ a b Marcus, Kenneth H. (2016). Schoenberg and Hollywood Modernism – Kenneth H. Marcus – Google Books. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107064997. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  4. ^ Caravella, Sandra; Lopez, Luis; Lawson, Ann (2011). Atwater Village – Sandra Caravella, Luis Lopez, Ann Lawson – Google Books. Arcadia. ISBN 9780738574899. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  5. ^ "Laguna Art Museum Scores Again; Gets 517 Works by Peter Krasnow". Los Angeles Times. 2000-07-26. Retrieved 2016-03-07.