in memoriam – richard titlebaum

Fabio

 

Departure of the Trojans, acrylic, 24″ x 48,” by R. Titelbaum.

I recently looked at the home page of Richard Titlebaum, only to find out that he died in October 2006 during heart surgery. I met Richard during at the annual Hyde Park/57th Street Art Fair. His work combined themes from surrealism, classical Greek literature and gay pride. He made drawings, watercolors and oils, producing dreamy landscapes or scenes inspired by ancient history and myth. Think folk art + Klee + Greek urns.  I made a habit during graduate school to visit his stall at the Hyde Park Art Fair and he once sold me an ink drawing he had made for his mother, which was inspired by a stay in Barcelona. It’s a work I have always treasured.

I learned more about him from his website and corresponded once or twice over email. He had a PhD in English from Harvard, taught literary criticism at UC Berkeley and then abandoned an academic career to dedicate himself to art. He showed widely in America and in Israel. He recently showed in the presigious Saatchi Gallery in London. I also learned that he sold antique books, was friends with literary giant Quentin Crisp and was a world traveller. Though I barely knew you, thank you, Richard.