Ben Morea, 1960s Anarchist and Artist, Dies at 84
Ben Morea, a significant figure from a 1960s anarchist group that left its mark on New York City, died at 84 on May 2 at his home in Gardner, Colorado. His ex-wife, Joan Eagle, shared that he had a fall while walking on their property, which is about 60 miles from New Mexico. Morea moved to this area in 1969, living for nearly four decades among Native American communities and working as a lumberjack before returning to Manhattan as a flea market seller. Standing just shy of 5 feet, he created abstract art to merge creativity with activism. He also published the radical magazine Black Mask and led a loosely organized group called "Up Against the Wall," attracting a diverse crowd. Morea's tactics were bolder than those of contemporaries like Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, and while he admired the Black Panthers, he felt they were too structured.
Key facts
- Ben Morea died on May 2 at his home in Gardner, Colorado, at age 84.
- He was an artist and chief provocateur of a 1960s anarchist group in New York City.
- His former wife, Joan Eagle, confirmed he collapsed while walking on their property.
- He moved to the region in 1969, lived among Native American tribes, and worked as a lumberjack for nearly 40 years.
- He later re-emerged in Manhattan as a flea market picker.
- He published the militant magazine Black Mask.
- His group was based on the Lower East Side and included runaways, Ivy League dropouts, petty criminals, and artists.
- He admired the Black Panthers but considered them too hierarchical.
Entities
Artists
- Ben Morea
- Joan Eagle
- Abbie Hoffman
- Jerry Rubin
Institutions
- Lincoln Center
- Columbia University
- Black Mask
- Black Panthers
Locations
- New York City
- Gardner
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Manhattan
- Lower East Side