Louis K. Meisel

I have been an art dealer specializing in contemporary art since 1967. I have owned and operated a public gallery in New York City since 1968, the first five years at 1022 Madison Avenue and from 1973 to the present at 141 Prince Street in SoHo. Louis K. Meisel Gallery. From 2001 to 2017 at 37 West 57th Street.

My wife Susan Meisel owns Meisel Real Estate, a Brokerage dealing in properties in SoHo, Tribeca, West Village, and the Hamptons. I am an associate Broker.

We also operate Meisel development which builds and owns commercial real estate in SoHo and on Montauk Highway between Southampton and Wainscot. I am quite experienced in buying, selling, brokering and constructing real estate properties and projects. We have the four architecturally designed and constructed building on Montauk Highway besides the Parrish Museum.

And a renovated and restored restaurant, Armin and Judy in Bridgehampton.

I have owned and operated Eminent Publications, an art publishing company,(1964 to 1974) Where I published my first art book, "Nathan Wasserberger", and the monumental Boris Lovet-Lorsky book.

Editions Lassiter/Meisel, a fine art publishing and printing company specializing in screen-print editions. (1978 to 1984).

Where with Norman Lassiter, we publishe vary large scale editions on Masonite and paper in up to 100 colors for the Photorealists and printed for Andy Warhol, Paul Jenkins, Romare Beardon, Richard Anuszkiewicz and others.

With my wife Susan I owned and operated Susan P. Meisel Decorative Arts Gallery, which dealt in decorative art and 20th century design. (1981 to 2000).

I have written the definitive books on Photorealism (Four volumes, totaling 1800 pages with 4000 illustrations), published in 1980, 1993, 2002 and 2013 by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York. I have also written the definitive books on the works of the contemporary artists Richard Estes, Charles Bell and Mel Ramos. In the area of decorative arts, my book on Clarice Cliff is the definitive book on the life and works of this pottery designer. My most recent books on the lives and works of great American pin-up artists of the 1930’s through the 1960’s include The Great American Pin-Up in 1996, The Best of American Girlie Magazine in 1997, and Gil Elvgren - All his Glamorous American Pin-ups in 1999, all published by Benedikt Taschen Verlag, Cologne, Germany, and The Edward Runci Collection: Pin Up Poster Book published in 1997 by Collectors Press, Inc., Portland, Oregon.

Since 1966 I have written over 100 catalog essays and have produced several hundred catalogs and brochures.

I have either curated or assited curators in creating and presenting over 250 Musem collection world wide in tha past 50 years. 

Susan has two best-selling books on the Hamptons, and five on Food with Rizzoli. They are photo books Fresh From The Farm, and Gourmet Shops of New York. New York Sweets etc. Each with hundreds of her original Photographs.

LOUIS K. MEISEL

Born: September 4, 1942, Brooklyn, NY

Education:

1960 Graduated From Tenafly High School, NJ
1960-63 Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, (Art, Business)
1963 Columbia University, New York, NY (Philosophy, English)
1963-65 New School for Social Research, New York, NY (Journalism, Art)

Work Experience:

1962 West Indies Fruit Company, Galveston, TX, (customs, consulate,
labor management, administrative work)
1964 Weyerhauser Paper Company, Miquon, PA, (engaged in all phases
of manufacturing fine text papers)
1964 Capital Paper Company, New York, NY (selling paper to printers
& publishers through 1969)
1964 Opened Eminent Publications, New York, NY (published, printed,
produced, designed, and created books, catalogues, brochures,
posters, announcements, etc. for art galleries and museums in
and around New York)
1968 Opened Meisel Gallery, New York, NY (representing New Realist
artists & dealing in postwar and contemporary American art)
1973 Opened Louis K. Meisel Gallery, New York, NY (relocation and
major expansion to 141 Prince Street)
1977 Opened Editions Lassiter/Meisel, Inc., New York, NY (to print
and publish serigraph editions for contemporary artists,
through 1987)
1980 Expanded Louis K. Meisel Gallery to 20,000 sq. ft.

2001 Opened Louis K. Meisel Gallery at 37 West 57th Street



Board Member: Music Festival of the Hamptons, V.P. Promusicis, Vice Chair of Board of Concert Artists Guild, Piano Fest Southampton. Classical Music Curator of the Parrish Museum, Watermill

Louis K. Meisel is President and Director of Louis K. Meisel Gallery, 141 Prince Street, New York. He is responsible for all phases of gallery operation, including buying, selling, promoting, advertising, and managing art and artists.

From 1967 to the present he has organized hundreds of exhibitions, which have traveled with accompanying catalogs to major universities and museums throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Louis K. Meisel represents a number of classical musicians, primarily pianists, but including other instruments, voice and composing, and presents several concerts a year in SoHo and other concert halls and venues.


Selected Publications or Media about Louis K. Meisel:

The Art Gallery Magazine, Oct. 1973, pp.29-34.

Levine, Les. "The New Deal", Arts Magazine, Jan. 1974, pp.42-45.

Kuhn, Annette. "Culture Shock", Village Voice, May 6, 1974, p.42.

Hartman, Rose. "In And Around", SoHo Weekly News, May 23, 1974, p.4.

Margolies, Susan. "New Yorkers, Fleeing Lofty Rents, Live In Spacious
Factory, Warehouse Lofts", The Wall Street Journal, Jan. 7, 1975, p.16.

Beardsall, Judy, ed. "Artscope", Soho Weekly News, Feb. 27, 1975, illus.

The Barry Farber Show, WOR, July 2, 1975.

WBAI, June, 1975.

Kipphoff, Petra. "Im Kunstler-Viertel Soho", Architektur & Women,
Sommerhalbjahr, Jan. 1976, pp.98-99.

Skurka, Norma. "Collector's Mania: If You Love It, You Live With It",
The New York Times, April 14, 1977, p.C-6.

Bilgore, Ellen. "SoHo", Town & Country Magazine, Sept. 1977, pp. 118-123, 140-141.

Bladow, Janel. "The Arts Flourish in Soho", Daily News, Sept. 29, 1977, p.71.

"Art Fan", The Washington Star, May 4, 1978, C-2.

Richard, Paul. "Merchants of Luxuries", The Washington Post, May 5, 1978, B-1, B-2.

Lewis, Jo Ann. "Artworks Supermarket", The Washington Star, May 6, 1978.

Miller, Donald. "Two Art Dealers' Inside Viewpoint", Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh), Oct. 18, 1978, pp.31-33.

Bee Maeve. "The Gallery Connection", Ocular, Fall 1978, vol.3, no.3, pp.55-65.

Newman, Jay Hartley and Lee Scott Newman. The Mirror Book, New York: Crown Publishers, Inc. 1978.

WABC-TV, January 1979.

"Done With Taste Chocolate Factory Now Spacious Home", Gannett Westchester Newspapers, Jan. 28, 1979, sec.H, p.2.

Litt, Steve. "New Money & New Buyers Made 1978 A Lucrative Year In The Art Market", Artworkers News, Vo.8, No.6, Feb. 1979, pp.1, 12.

MacKenzie, David C. "Art Dealer Will Discuss Artist Survival", Tulsa World, June 3, 1979.

NBC-TV, Sept. 26, 1979.

Popeye Magazine, January 2, 1980, pp.82-83, (Japanese).

Meisel, Louis K. "Fifteen Years of Photo-Realism", Horizon Magazine, November 1980, pp.52-59.

Perreault, John. "Photorealism Book Review", SoHo Weekly News, Nov. 26, 1980, p.17.

Gifford, J. Nebraska and Melvin B. Shestack. Secrets of Success - A Plan Book For Making It In The 1980's, New York: Pocket Books, Interview: Louis K. Meisel, 1980, p. 136.

Russell, John. The New York Times, Oct. 9, 1981.

Zimmer, William. "Shiny American Things", Art News, Nov. 1981.

Meisel, Louis K. "On Plagen's on Flack", Art in America, May 1982, p.5.

Marera, Daniella. "Fotorealismo", Italian Vogue, Oct. 1992, pp.634-639, 700 illus.

Reif, Rita. "Pottery with an Art Deco Touch", The New York Times, July 24, 1983.

FIAC Magazine, Oct. 25 - Nov. 2, 1986, p.41.

"The Swan Ball", West Meade News (Nashville), vol.4, no.25, June 18, 1992, pp.27,31.

Chester, Marjorie. "Rare Trees, Rare Collectors", The New York Times, LI-sec.13, August 23, 1992, pp.1,13.

Graça, António Vasconcelos. "Louis Meisel: O Sucesso Das Artes Na Capital Do Exito", Em Voga (Lisbon), no.24, March/April 1993, pp.59-60.

Cummings, Mary. “Snapshot Paints a Picture of Photorealism’s Father,” The Southampton Press, September 2, 1993, p.B1.

Hanor, Stephanie. Review of Photorealism Since 1980, Tulanian, (New Orleans), vol.64, no.4, Winter 1993, p.9.

Cooper, James F. "Who's Afraid of Photorealism?" (Book Review), American Arts Quarterly, Summer/Autumn 1993, pp. 31-33, illustration. Louis K. Meisel, Page 4

Southgate, Patsy. “Louis Meisel - SoHo Pin-Ups, Sag Sculptures”, The East Hampton Star, October 5, 1995, p. 1, p. III-4.

Greenfield, Beth. “Collector Gathers Pin-ups for Colorful Compendium”, December 19, 1996, The Southampton Press, NY, pp. B-1, B-7.

Smith, David S. Review of The Great American Pin-up, Antiques and The Arts Weekly, December 20, 1996, p. 56.

Kern, Dale. Review of The Great American Pin-Up, Marin Independent Journal, July 14, 1997, Section E3, Lifestyles.

Tully, Judd. “Buoyant Market for Charles Bell’s ‘Fewer than 200’ Works”, Art Newsletter, 13 January 1998, Vol. XXIII, No. 10, p. 5.

Harrison, Helen. “South Fork Gardens Abloom With Art,” The New York Times,
May 17, 1998, P. 14 (L.I.).

Review of The Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, Art & Auction, November 2000, writeup and photograph of Louis K. Meisel.

Stein-Greben, Deidre. Review of The Bernarducci Meisel Gallery, Artnews, February 2001, p. 159

Jensen, Mona, et al. This Is America, catalogue for exhibition, Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aarhus, Denmark, September 1 - November 25, 2001, "The Leader Of The Gang! - Interview with Louis K. Meisel" p. 28-36.

Mercurio, Gianni, et al, with essay by Louis K. Meisel. Iperrealisti, catalogue for the exhibition, Chiostro del Bramante, Rome, Italy, April 5 – June 29, 2003, p. 61-62.

Long, Robert. Review of Photorealism at the Millennium, East Hampton Star,
May 29, 2003

Polsky, Richard. I Bought Andy Warhol, Harry N. Abrams; June 1, 2003, "The Tree Collector" p.

Polsky, Richard. Art Market Guide 2005, March, www.artnet.com/magazine/features/polsky/polsky3-10-05.asp

Essay by Louis Meisel. “Forty Years of Photorealism”. American Art Collector. Arizona: International Artist
Publishing, Inc., p 67-68.

Chalumeau, Jean-Luc. Peinture Et Photographie: Pop-art, Figuration Narrative, Hyperréalisme, Nouveaux Pop. [Paris]: Chêne, 2007. Print.

Ripley, Deborah. "Putting Photorealism Back in Focus." Art on Paper Mar.-Apr. 2008: 21-22.

Cohler, Eric. “Visionary, Innovator, Collector, Dealer: A Conversation with Louis Meisel, The Founder of Photorealism.” American Art Collector Vol. 32, June 2008: 56-63.

“Contemporary Art.” Sotheby’s, Morning Sale, November 12,2008, p. 149.

Mills, Michael. "Shock of the Passe." New Times [Broward - Palm Beach] 13 Jan. 2009.

Trelles, Emma. "The Camera's Eye: Photorealist Paintings Provide Snapshot of Everyday Life." The Miami Herald 8 Feb. 2009.

Gisbourne, Mark. “In the Republic of Realism.” Deutsche Guggenheim Magazine Spring 2009: 8-13.

Lubin, David, comp. "They Were Really Nice Guys." Deutsche Guggenheim Magazine Spring 2009: 14-19.

Czubinska, Magdelena. "Why Photorealism?" Preface. American Photorealism from the Louis K. and Susan P. Meisel Family Collection. Krakow: National Museum in Krakow, 2009. 30-41. Print.

Kowalczyk, Anna, ed. American Dream: American Lexicon. Krakow: National Museum in Krakow, 2009.

“Let Them Eat Cheesecake: The Unsung Art Movement of the Masses, We Celebrate the History of Pin-Up Art.” Imagine FX March 2010: 44-51.

Gibson Stoodley, Sheila. "Picture This." Art & Antiques May 2010: 66-75. Print.

"Photorealism XX." American Art Collector Oct. 2010: 214-17. Print.

"Taking Stock with Pimm Fox." Interview by Pimm Fox. Taking Stock with Pimm Fox. Bloomberg Television. New York, New York, 12 Nov. 2010. Television.


Books by Louis K. Meisel:

Meisel, Louis K. Nathan Wasserberger, 1964.

Meisel, Louis K. Boris Lovet Lorski, Tribute to Woman, Ltd edition (1000 copies), 1965.

Meisel, Louis K. Photorealism, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1980.

Meisel, Louis K. Richard Estes: The Complete Paintings 1966-1985, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1986.

Meisel, Louis K.; Leonard Griffin and Susan P. Meisel. Clarice Cliff: The Bizarre Affair, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1988.

Meisel, Louis K. and Henry Geldzahler. Charles Bell: The Complete Works 1970-1990, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1991.

Meisel, Louis K. Photorealism since 1980, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1993.

Meisel, Louis K. and Charles G. Martignette. The Great American Pin-Up, Cologne: Benedikt Taschen Verlag, 1996.

Meisel, Louis K. and Charles G. Martignette. The Best of American Girlie Magazines, Cologne: Benedikt Taschen Verlag, 1997.

Meisel, Louis K. and Charles G. Martignette. The Edward Runci Collection: Pin Up Poster Book, Portland, OR: Collectors Press, Inc., 1997.

Meisel, Louis K. and Charles G. Martignette. Gil Elvgren - All his Glamorous American Pin-ups, Cologne: Benedikt Taschen Verlag, 1999.

Meisel, Louis K. Photorealism at the Millennium, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2002.

Meisel, Louis K. and Donald Kuspit. Mel Ramos Pop Art Fantasies: The Complete Paintings, New York: Watson-Guptill, 2004.

Meisel, Louis K. Photorealism in the Digital Age, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2013


Selected Lectures:

Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MN
Cranbrook Academy of Arts, MI
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
The Arts & Crafts Center, Pittsburgh, PA (1978)
The New School Extension, New York, NY (1978)
Arts & Humanities Council, Tulsa, OK (1979)
Philbrook Academy, Tulsa, OK, (1979)
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (1980)
Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (1991)
Natural History Museum, Baird Auditorium, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (1993)
Aarhus Museum, Denmark, (2001)
Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL (2002)
Chiostro Del Bramante Museum, Rome Italy (2003)
Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL (2004)
Hokodate Museum of Art, Hokkaido Japan (2004)
Boca Raton Museum of Fine Art, Boca Raton, FL (2009)