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Richard Bernstein (October 31, 1939- October 18, 2002) was an American artist and leading figure in visual arts movement known as pop art. He had the singular honor of doing the cover art for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine for nearly 20 years where he created an unmistakable identifiable style that is instantly recognizable as the “Bernstein Look.” His work utilized a variety of media including painting, silkscreening, photography. As a “chronicler of his times,” his portraits of Salvador Dali, Ryan O’Neal & Racquel Welch exemplify the ‘pop art’ genre.

Sometimes confused with Warhol’s own work, Mr. Bernstein’s portraits of stars like Cher, Ali MacGraw, Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone captured the glittering excess of the disco era. Embellishing photographs with pencils, airbrush and pastels, he gave his subjects an idealized glow that was intensified by the large format of the magazine.

Early life
Bernstein was born on October 31, 1939 in New York City to a Jewish family with an older brother and younger sister Ellen. His father Herbert Bernstein was a clothing manufacturer and his mother Florence was a homemaker who was supportive of his artistic talents. His mother first took him to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art children's school where he saw works by Piet Mondrian Pablo Picasso and other masters where Bernstein gained an appreciation for art and wanted to explore his interest. Bernstein got his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Pratt Institute and M.F.A. from Columbia University.

Career
As a fine art major, he studied with Richard Lindner while earning his B.F.A. from Pratt and his M.F.A. from Columbia University. His mastery of painting is easily seen in his brilliant portraiture. Bernstein's incredible affinity with the human face has led to works that are both figurative and iconic, reflecting both an era and culture. His incorporation of several mediums on a single canvas shows the interrelation of elements he saw in the world around him.

Bernstein launched his fine art career at the legendary Irit Clert Gallery in Paris. He had then shown at the Axiom Gallery in London, the Gallery Barozzi in Venice, the Gallery Money in Amsterdam and several one man shows at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery in New York City.

His works are part of several major collections, including the Corcoran Gallery of Fine Art in Washing D.C., the Stejdlik Museum in Amsterdam and moth the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

In the early 1960’s, he moved into the Chelsea Hotel, which became the home of Edie Sedgwick and other Warhol superstars.

In the 1970s, Bernstein met Andy Warhol and went on to become a key member of the Factory. In the 70’s, he mingled with the Warhol group and the fashionable crowd at clubs like Studio 54.

He was also art director of Calvin Klein's national billboard campaign and acting as art advisor for innumerable music videos and TV commercials.

His other work in the music industry has led to several award winning album covers for recording artists such as Grace Jones.

In 1984, Bernstein released his first book "Megastar" commemorating his fine portraiture. The first edition of this coffee table book printed in three languages were completely sold out making it a valuable collectors item. In her introduction to the book Paloma Picasso wrote: ‘Richard Bernstein portrays stars. He celebrates their faces, he gives them larger-than-fiction size. He puts wit into the beauties, fantasy into the rich, depth into the glamorous and adds instant patina to newcomers.’ Bernstein made the up-and-coming celebrities of the era-Sylvester Stallone, Calvin Klein, Madonna, even wholesome Mary Tyler Moore-look as sleek and sexy as our nostalgic memories of that era. “Things are stronger, faster and further,” Paloma Picasso wrote of Bernstein’s oeuvre in a published collection of his work, Megastar. “Superstars became Megastars.”

In 1990, Bernstein had been commissioned by the World Federation of United Nations to create the first postal stamp of the new decade. This commission places him in the company of Warhol, Calder and Picasso who had been similarly honored.

Legacy
Bernstein’s work was often mistaken for Warhol’s and this was exacerbated by Warhol who delighted in signing the covers of Interview for his fans. "Richard Bernstein’s faces are wonderful,” Warhol once said, adding, "They’re so colorful, and he makes everyone look so famous.” Mr. Bernstein's work is in the permanent collection of National Portrait  Gallery  of  Washington, Museum  of  Modern Art, Stedelijk  Museum,  Amsterdam, Hirshhorn Museum and countless private collections.

Book & Magazine Illustrations, Record Covers, Special Projects & Awards
1964 Automobile Quarterly,  Collage Illustration

1971 Coty Awards Set Design, F.I.T.  with  Bea Feitler for Elenor Lambert

1973 Cher, Stars,  Record cover,  Warner Brothers

1973 Star Discs, Record  cover,  London  Records

1973 Dana Gillespie,  Cover art,  Mainman

1975 Art Direction  Magazine,  Ad  Dir,  Award for  "Women  Behind Bars"

1975 Black Soul, Cover art,  Beam Junction

1975 Celia Cruz, Cover art,  Fania All Stars,  SaJSoul

1976 Grace Jones, Record cover,  Beam  Junction

1977 Phonographics, Brad  Benedict,  McWilliam  Publishing Company

1977 Pakalameredith, Record  cover,  Elektra

1977 "Fame," Grace Jones,  Record  cover,  Island

1977 Ducan Sisters,  Cover art,  Casablanca

1978 Meus Olhos,  by Luis Tripoli,  Celebrity portrait  published in Brazil

1978 Booldist, American Library Association,  Cover from "Romantic and  Glamourous  Hollywood"

1978 Zeigfield Ball, In  honor of  Erte,  At the Metropolitan  Club, Costume  design for Grace  Jones

1978 "Muse," Grace Jones,  Record  cover,  Island

1979 Loleatta Holloway,  Record  cover! SalSoul

1979 Grace Jones,   On Your Knees. Cover, Island

1980 An International Salute  To  Opera,  Writters  and  artists  for Peace in  the  Mid  East

1981 Love. The Art Of Romance,  Brad  Benedict,  Harmony Books

1981 Illustration, Nov.,  Japan,  Four page  spread

1982 Japanese Vogue, "Brooke Shields-East Meets West"

1982 The New Illustration,  Airbrush Artists

1984 Fame 1,  Cover an and repro  inside,  Brad  Benedict,  Grove Press

1984 Nightlife Magazine,  N.Y.  Mega.star

1985 Fame 2,  Cover art and repro  inside,  Brad  Benedict,  Grove Press

1985 Time Magazine,  "Miami Vice"  cover

1986 German Vogue, Andy Warhol  painting,  Art Director-Helmut Schmidt

1986 Gentlemen's Quarterly, N.Y.,  Bill Murray  portrait

· 1987 Bay City Rollers,  T.V. title  cards,  Hanna-Barbera

1987 Cosmopolitan Japan, Tokyo,  New Wave Artists

1988 S.O.S. First Annual Benefit Auction, Sotheby's,  N.Y.

1988 Night Of A Hundred  Trees

1988 Playboy Magazine, "Nancy  Reagan"  portrait

1988 Faz Allemange; Germany covers

1989 Print Case Showbood Award,   Best  cover

1989 Save The Animals, Park  Bernet,  Auction  of portrait of Diana Vreeland

1989 Amor Y Caridad, Mexico City, Benefit for Children's AIDS Hospital,  Presented  by Arnold  Schwarzenegger

1989 L.A. Herald  Examiner,  Click,  Joan  Quinn

1989 N.Y. Times Magazine,  Fall  season  cover

1989 Inside Story,  Grace  Jones. Cover Manhattan

1989 Inside Story,  Video art director,  libonatti

1990 Sunday At The  Bay,  Bellport auction for AIDS benefit

1990 Hot Air No.1 Design  Excellence,   Interview and  reproduction of Sly Stallone. North lights

1990 Edie, Cover art for Bantam  Books  paperback  edition, Plimpton

1990 W.F.U.N.A., Stamps designed  on the  computer,  Designed  by the  artist and awarded a commemoration   plaque  by Secretary General Javier De  Cuellar

1990 Nightlife Magazine Photographic  Debut,  Cover and editorial with Grace  Jones

1990 Zoom Magazine,  Photo  story  on  Chelsea artists,  Photos by Rita Burrows

1990 Expresso Magazine, France. Photo story

1990 Paul Jabara, Cover art

1990 Grace Jones,   I'm  Not  Perfect,  Cover art,  Capitol

1990 Grace Jones,  Do Or Die,  Cover art,  Island

1991 Grace Jones, Killer Kiss,  Cover art,  Capitol

1992 Official Portrait of Robert  F.  Kennedy for the R.F.K.  Memorial Center

1992 Italian Vogue,  Feb.,  Artists  Of The  Chelsea  Hotel,  Oaneiala Morera

Publications, Reviews, Quotes & Reproductions
1965   David  Bourdon,  Village Voice,  1965

1971   Chicago  Today,  May Mike  Jahn,  The Artist  in  Studio

1971   Arts  Magazine Sept. and Oct. Reproduction and  review from show  at  French  and  Co.  Group  Show

1972   The  Realist  Revival. Scott Burton

1972   Phases  of  New  Realism,  Lowe  Art  Museum,  John J. Baratte

1973   University  Art Gallery,  San Jose  University

1973   A  Flash  of  U.S.  Avant  Garde  I Realism,  Espace  Cardin, Maurice-Frederick Calatchi

1973   Interview  Magazine,  Feature  story  on Years with  Warhol

197 4   Selections  in  Contemporary  Realism,  Akron  Art lnstitue, Robert  Boltz

1974   Nineteenth  National  Print  Exhibit,  Brooklyn  Museum,  Jo Miller

1974  Tokyo  Biennale  '74,  The Mainichi  Newspapers  East  Coast I West  Coast I New  Realism

1975   Art Directions  Dec.,  Two  page  article  on Graphics  and Design  with  Illustrations

1975   Art Bibliographies  Modem-Volume  No.  2.

1975   Soho  Weekly News  Feb.,  Review at  Lajeski  Gallery with Photos

1978 · Rolling  Stone. Sept., Interview  with artist  about  his celebrated  cover art

1980   E.C.  Windward  Gallery,  Real  Estate  &  Designs Trade. May 28, 1980

1980   Los Angeles  Herald  Examiner,  May  18,  1980  issue  on show  at  E.C.  Windward  Gallery

1982   Studio  Voice. Japan. Cover story

1982   New  York Magazine. Story with photos  of  artist

1984   Mega Star. Richard Bernstein,  Indigo  Books

1987   Art Directions. March, Computer art for best cover  graphics

1987   Fame  Magazine. Max's Kansas City

1988   New  York  Magazine,  Feb. • Andy's Empire

1988   Print  Casebooks,  Best  Graphics  for cover art

1989   Andy Warhol I A  Retrospective. MOMA

1989   Andy  Warhol,  David  Bourdon. Harry Abrams

1989   The Warhol  Diaries,  Warner  Books

1989   The  Party  Book I Warhol, Pat  Hackett

1989   Print  World  Directory,  '88-'89  Contemporary  Prints

1989   L.A.  Herald  Examiner,  Click,  by  Joan  Quinn

1989   Fame  Magazine,  The  New  York  Studio  people  story

1990   Holy Terror,  Bob  Colaciello. Harper

1990  Express,  Sabads  23, De Jusekss   De,  1990,  on  Chelsea Artist

1990   Hamptons  Paper,  Labor  Day,  1990. on an  Artist in  new Gallery  Rempire

1990  The  East  Hampton  Star. August 24. 1ggo, on  show  at Hampton  Sq.  Gallery,  "August  Heras"

1990  The  Hamptons. August 24, 1990

1990   The  Miami  Herald,  April  22. 1990. on  show  at  Barbara Gilman  Gallery

1990  The  Providence  Journal. Jan., U.N.  Stamps

1990   Street  News. March. U.N. Stamps

1991   Zoom  Magazine. Dec., Interview  with artist

1991   Hollywood  Reporter. Cornerstone Gallery,  Review  of  one man  show

1992   Detour  Magazine,  Profile  on  the  artist

1992   Italian  Vogue. Feb .. Chelsea Artists

1997  The Warhol Look: Glamour, Style Fashion, The Andy Warhol Museum, curated by Mark Francis and Margery Kind

2014  MOMA, Making Music Modern, Design for Ear and Eye

2016  Brooklyn Museum, Iggy Pop

Personal Life and death
Though he was bisexual, Bernstein was engaged to actress, photographer Berry Berenson whom he met while they were working at Interview Magazine. Ms. Berenson later married actor Anthony Perkins. In the mid 1990s Mr. Bernstein tested HIV positive but had been able to keep it in remission until his death. Bernstein died on October 18 2002 in his apartment at the Hotel Chelsea of heart failure.