Richard Merkin: New York Painter and Eccentric Aesthetic 1938-2009

Richard Merkin, a renowned New York painter celebrated for his lively, jazz-age-inspired art, passed away in 2009. His work captured quirky cultural aspects from the 1920s and 1930s, featuring literary nods, early comic characters, glamorized gangsters, classic Hollywood moments, Tin Pan Alley lyrics, and numerous self-portraits of himself as a dandy. For over four decades, he taught at the Rhode Island School of Design and exhibited at the Terry Dintenfass Gallery. In the 1970s, he pushed back against minimalist art with his witty and provocative creations. His West End Avenue residence resembled a personal museum, filled with prewar erotica and baseball memorabilia. He gained fame through Esquire photos, was recognized by The New York Times for his dandyism knowledge, appeared in The Great Gatsby film, and participated in various Whitney Biennials. In the 1980s, he married Heather from Liverpool and embraced a bolder artistic style, contributing to publications like The New Yorker and GQ. Unfortunately, a string of challenges in the 21st century led him to retreat from the public eye. Artist Duncan Hannah, who befriended Merkin in 1975, reminisces about his distinct quirks and the inspiration he brought to many.