American painter and artist. Born in the Bronx, New York and studied with Hans Hofmann during the late 1940s. Rivers began his career in draftsmanship, painting naturalistic subjects. In the 1970s, Rivers converted his practice to airbrushing, stenciling, printmaking and assemblage. He is viewed as the precursor to Pop Art. Rivers lived in the Hotel Chelsea during the 1960s along with his notable artist contemporaries, including the American painter Howard Kanovitz. Rivers traveled to Africa with Pierre Gaisseau for a documentary and worked with other filmmakers on various projects. Rivers primarily exhibited at the Marlborough Gallery in New York City.