Harrison Public Library Presents “Everything Old is New Again” by Michael Mendel

Exhibition is on display June 4 to June 30, 2023.
Gallery is open to the public during regular library hours.

Artist’s Statement:

An escapee with his parents from Nazi Germany in 1938, Michael Mendel arrived in America in 1940 by way of Havana Cuba.

Obtaining a BA in Art from the City College of New York in 1952, Mendel quickly became a commissioned officer in the U.S. infantry where he taught military tactics at Ft Benning Georgia.

Once back in civilian life he worked his way up the commercial art world and opened his own graphic design studio in New York City in 1979. For over thirty years Mendel designed record album covers for some of America’s great recording stars such as Tony Bennett, Gladys Knight, NY Philharmonic, and hundreds more!

In 2009 he turned his spare time to discovering and teaching himself the art of watercolor painting and to this date has completed 485 paintings.

His paintings are in private collections across the U.S. and he has exhibited in prestigious galleries on the East Coast.

About the Artist:

Michael Mendel was born in Berlin Germany in 1934.  He and his parents escaped the Nazi Regime of Adolf Hitler in the fall of 1938.  Circumstances forced them to reside in Havana, Cuba for almost two years, before being allowed to legally enter the United States.

Michael graduated from the City College of New York in 1956 with a BA in Art, then was commissioned as an officer in the US Infantry.   Back in civilian life and with several entry level art jobs behind him, he began a career as a graphic designer in the world of recorded music, a career that spanned almost forty years.  Opening his own art studio, he designed record album covers for many of America’s great musical personalities.  Tony Bennett; Gladys Knight; Johnny Mathis; Donovan; NY Philharmonic; Eydie Gorme; Beach boys and hundreds more.  Having dabbled in primitive oils in his younger years, he began to take painting seriously about 2009. With three small sets of watercolors and four brushes, he taught himself to paint in this new medium.

Michael’s New York City and Hudson River art has adorned the walls of museums and galleries throughout the East Coast and is also in private collections throughout the United States.