Henry Cohen (1914 -1995), born in Brooklyn, was a life-long New Yorker. A graduate of Cooper Union (architecture) and New York University (civil engineering), he used that expertise as he evolved as a painter. His initial influences were Benton, then Orosco and Rivera, whose works he saw during a six-month visit to Mexico in 1946. Over time, his paintings shifted from figurative to sculptural, and ultimately to the mature, highly engineered works done in the 1970’s and 1980’s, which captured the dynamics and complexities of the urban environment. His mastery of the medium is illustrated by his painting everything freehand ... nothing was taped, but was created using simple sign painter's tools. He had patience, discipline, and a very steady hand.
A founding member of the Granite Gallery and Spectrum Gallery, Mr. Cohen participated in numerous solo and group shows including at the John Weber Gallery, Alexander Milliken Gallery, Medici-Berenson Gallery, Newark Museum, 92nd Street Y, New York University Loeb Gallery, and many others. His works are held by the Prudential Insurance Company, the Cleveland Museum, the New York City Board of Education, and numerous private collections.
Shows
Solo
1995 Civic Center Synagogue, New York NY
1991 Image Gallery, Princeton NJ
1985 Tower East Gallery, Cleveland OH
1982 Medici-Berenson Gallery, Bay Harbor FL
1981 Alexander Milliken Gallery, New York NY
1978 Gallery 55, New York NY
1976 Gallery 55, New York NY
1970 Spectrum Gallery, New York NY
1968 Spectrum Gallery, New York NY
1966 spectrum Gallery, New York NY
1964 granite gallery, new york ny
1962 Argonaut gallery, new york ny
1960 elan gallery, new york ny
Invitational
1980 John Weber Gallery, New York NY
Group
Image Gallery, John Weber Gallery, Newark Museum, Jersey City Museum, Summit Art Center, 92nd Street Y, Lever House, Riverside Museum, New York University Loeb Gallery, and many others
Collections
Prudential Insurance Company, Cleveland Museum, Distribix Corporation, New York City Board of Education, and numerous private collections
Solo
1995 Civic Center Synagogue, New York NY
1991 Image Gallery, Princeton NJ
1985 Tower East Gallery, Cleveland OH
1982 Medici-Berenson Gallery, Bay Harbor FL
1981 Alexander Milliken Gallery, New York NY
1978 Gallery 55, New York NY
1976 Gallery 55, New York NY
1970 Spectrum Gallery, New York NY
1968 Spectrum Gallery, New York NY
1966 spectrum Gallery, New York NY
1964 granite gallery, new york ny
1962 Argonaut gallery, new york ny
1960 elan gallery, new york ny
Invitational
1980 John Weber Gallery, New York NY
Group
Image Gallery, John Weber Gallery, Newark Museum, Jersey City Museum, Summit Art Center, 92nd Street Y, Lever House, Riverside Museum, New York University Loeb Gallery, and many others
Collections
Prudential Insurance Company, Cleveland Museum, Distribix Corporation, New York City Board of Education, and numerous private collections
spectrum gallery, 1966