Edward Henrion
Plano, TX
Edward Henrion (1928-2016) was a graduate of Cooper Union and Hunter College. His wife and fellow-artist, Marilyn Henrion, is administrator of his estate.
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EDWARD HENRION 1928-2016
Born in 1928, Ed Henrion grew up in Detroit Michigan. After studying painting with Alexander Zlatov- Mirsky in Chicago, he moved to New York in 1948 where he studied Philosophy at Fordham University and graduated from the Cooper Union College of Arts & Sciences and Hunter College.
He lived in Greenwich Village with his wife and fellow Cooper Union graduate, Marilyn Henrion, for over 65 years until his death in 2016.
During the 1950's Ed was a regular attendee at the 8th Street Artists’ Club, along with the major abstract expressionist painters Motherwell, deKooning, Rothko, Barnett Newman, etc. During the 1960‘s and 70‘s the Henrions were immersed in the art and literary scene of the time. Their social network included Joseph Cornell, Tom Wesselman, and Claes Oldenburg, in whose Happenings Marilyn performed. Salons held at their Greenwich Village apartment featured poetry readings by important poets of the day such as Howard Hart, Allen Ginsberg, Philip Lamantia, Bob Nichols, and Ray Bremser, as well as performances by avant garde composer, Jackson Maclow.
Ed’s satirical drawings constitute a no-holds-barred commentary on the New York scene and world events as he experienced them during a significant era. The softer side of his nature was manifested in his exquisitely executed nude life drawings and paintings. However, except for occasional freelance editorial illustrations for publications such as Human Events and Libertarian Review, he studiously avoided any involvement in the business of art. Instead, while continuing to create new drawings and paintings, Ed earned his living as an art teacher at Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, New York before retiring in 1987.
He gave up making art in the early '90's and became an avid chess player and science enthusiast. In 2011, he finally allowed his wife to introduce his extraordinary body of work to the public with the publication of two books of his satirical drawings which had never been exhibited or published, "Sweet & Lovely" and "Top Hat". "Book of Chance" was co-authored with Marilyn Henrion and illustrated by Edward Henrion. A final book, "Mickey Rat" was published posthumously in 2017. All are now available on amazon.com.
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Statement
With a background in art and philosophy and decades of success as an illustrator and instructor, Edward Henrion had a keen eye for the absurdities of the human condition. He was a master of satire, following the centuries-old respected tradition of this fine art genre, i.e. Pieter Breugel, Heronymous Bosch, etc. An equal opportunity offender, Edward created satirical drawings that took no prisoners. The softer side of his nature was evidenced in his exquisitely drafted life drawings of the human figure. His paintings often combined both of these qualities. His extensive body of work is currently administered by his widow and fellow artist, Marilyn Henrion.