Arthur Leipzig

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Arthur Leipzig (October 25, 1918 – December 5, 2014) was an American photographer who specialized in street photography and was known for his photographs of New York City.[1][2]

Career[edit]

Leipzig was born in Brooklyn. After sustaining a serious injury to his right hand while working at a glass wholesaler, Leipzig joined the Photo League where he studied photography, took part in Sid Grossman's Documentary Workshop, taught Advanced Technique classes for three years, and exhibited his work.[3] From 1942 until 1946 he was a staff photographer for PM. He also studied under Paul Strand before quitting the League to pursue a career as a freelance photojournalist.

In 1955 Leipzig's 1943 photograph King of the Hill, depicting two little boys challenging each other on a sand heap, was selected by Edward Steichen[4] for the world-touring exhibition The Family of Man at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, that was seen by 9 million visitors.[5]

Leipzig was a professor of art and the director of photography at the CW Post Campus of Long Island University from 1968–1991.[6] In an effort to build his department and enhance the quality of photographic techniques, Leipzig recruited two well known photojournalists, Louis Stettner and Ken Johnson (formerly a photo editor with Black Star) to his staff. He also recruited the now, highly regarded female photographer, Christine Osinski.

Leipzig contributed his work to many publications including Fortune, Look, Parade, and Natural History, while continuing to pursue his independent projects.[6]

In 2004, he won the Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Fine Art Photography.[3]

Leipzig died in Sea Cliff, New York on December 5, 2014, aged 96.[7]

Exhibitions[edit]

Selected solo exhibitions[edit]

Selected group exhibitions[edit]

Permanent collections[edit]

Photographic books[edit]

  • Sarah’s Daughters: A Celebration of Jewish Women, published by Women’s American ORT, 1988
  • Growing up in New York; Boston: David R. Godine, 1995 (ISBN 1567920519)
  • On Assignment with Arthur Leipzig; Boston: Long Island University Press, 2005 (ISBN 0913252026; ISBN 978-0-913252-02-4)
  • Arthur Leipzig: Next Stop New York; Munich / New York: Prestel, 2008

Awards[edit]

  • 2004 Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Fine Art Photography[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Interviews with ASMP Founders" (series) "Arthur Leipzig" (interview and transcript, 1990). American Society of Media Photographers. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019 – via Wayback Machine.
    Re: Arthur Leipzig: Interview and transcript by Kay Reese & Mimi Leipzig (née Mildred Levin; 1923–2022; Arthur's wife). In 1996, the ASMP staff edited the transcript for online presentation and added supplemental biographic information.
  2. ^ Klein, Mason of the Jewish Museum, Manhattan; Evans, Catherine of the Columbus Museum of Art. The Radical Camera: New York's Photo League, 1936-1951. Yale University Press.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) LCCN 2011-20574; ISBN 978-0-3001-4687-5, ISBN 0-3001-4687-6; OCLC 711045632 (all editions).
  3. ^ a b Arthur Leipzig bio at The Jewish Museum
  4. ^ Sandeen, Eric J (1995), Picturing an exhibition : the family of man and 1950s America (1st ed.), University of New Mexico Press, ISBN 978-0-8263-1558-8
  5. ^ Edward Steichen (1879–1973), book intro and exhibition organizer; Carl Sandburg (1878–1967), prologue; Dorothy Norman (1905–1997), added text; Leo Lionni (1910–1999), book designer (1955). "U.S.A. Arthur Leipzig". In Jerry Mason (ed.). The Family of Man: The Photographic Exhibition. Published for the Museum of Modern Art by Simon and Schuster in collaboration with the Maco Magazine Corporation. p. 38. Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via Internet Archive.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) Re: article about the book: The Family of Man. LCCN 67-31983; OCLC 1078813503 (all editions).
  6. ^ a b c d e "Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery Presents On Assignment: Photographs by Arthur Leipzig", UMBC News, 24 March 2005. Accessed 6 January 2011.
  7. ^ New York Times (The); Martin, Douglas (December 5, 2014). "Arthur Leipzig, Photographer of Everyday Life in New York, Dies at 96". The New York Times. Online ed. Free access icon. Retrieved December 6, 2014. ProQuest 2212824507 (online; US Newsstream database).
    "Arthur Leipzig, a Photographer of Everyday Life in New York, Dies at 96". Print → Late Edition (East Coast). December 6, 2014. p. 17 (Section A). ProQuest 1632454092 (print; US Newsstream database); ISSN 0362-4331.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Arthur Leipzig: Exhibitions", Photography-now.com. Accessed 6 January 2011.
  9. ^ "Arthur Leipzig: Next Stop New York - Fotografien Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine", Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, 2008. (in German) Accessed 6 January 2011.
  10. ^ a b c Auction page[permanent dead link]