The Temple Museum of Jewish Art, Religion, and Culture Acquires Complete Set of Andy Warhol Prints

Media Contact:
Sue Koletsky, Museum Director
The Temple-Tifereth Israel
skoletsky@ttti.org
216-831-3233 (main)
216-455-1697 (direct)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Temple Museum of Jewish Art, Religion, and Culture Acquires Complete Set of Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century by Andy Warhol

The Temple Museum of Jewish Art, Religion, and Culture at The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood, Ohio announces the acquisition of the full series of prints entitled Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century by Andy Warhol. The series consists of 10 individual silkscreen portraits on paper of Sarah Bernhardt, Louis Brandeis, Martin Buber, Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, George Gershwin, Franz Kafka, the Marx Brothers, Golda Meir, and Gertrude Stein. The set of 40” x 32” portraits is Printer’s Proof 3/5 created by Warhol in 1980 in New York City.

An exhibition of the series will take place in September 2022 at The Temple-Tifereth Israel. Further details will be announced as they are confirmed.

The acquisition of the complete portfolio is a gift from Joel L. Saltzman and a gift in memory of Leslie Wolf by his family. The donors want the portfolio to be in the public eye housed at a Jewish museum where the art will be used for the benefit of the community through exhibitions and education.

The series adds to The Temple Museum’s collection of over 2,500 objects and fine arts including twelve Memorial Windows by Arthur Szyk, the 24-piece portfolio of color lithographs The Story of Exodus by Marc Chagall, the suite of 45 Holocaust Wall Hangings by Judith Weinshall Liberman, and bronze sculpture Miracle II by Jacques Lipchitz.

“I am thrilled to have this iconic Warhol portfolio in our collection,” said Temple Museum Director Sue Koletsky. “The historic significance as a complete set is not only an asset to our collection, but also to our community and beyond.”

A commercial success in Warhol’s lifetime, the prints depict intellectuals, leaders, and artistic talents in his signature pop-art fashion. Splashed with color and shapes, they blur the boundaries between art and commerce.

Senior Rabbi Jonathan Cohen added, “This is a historic and transformative contribution to The Temple Museum’s collection and presents exciting artistic-cultural and educational opportunities for our greater community.”

Executed at a mature moment in Andy Warhol’s career, Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century showcases the artist’s ongoing exploration of famed subjects as well as religious identity. After an inspired conversation with Ronald Feldman, Warhol’s gallerist at the time, the idea emerged to create a portfolio of portraits of luminaries of the Jewish faith, with the purpose of highlighting the individual’s intellectual and aesthetic qualities.

About The Temple Museum of Jewish Art, Religion, and Culture

The Temple Museum was founded by Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver in 1950 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Temple-Tifereth Israel. It was housed at The Temple’s original location in University Circle in Cleveland in a space designed by Rorimer Brooks before moving to its current location in Beachwood. It is one of the first museums of Judaica in North America and one of only a few synagogue museums with significant collections.

The Museum’s collection numbers over 2,500 Jewish ritual and fine art objects including 186 pieces on view in The Temple-Tifereth Israel Gallery at The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage. In addition to exhibitions, Museum programming includes monthly Art Talks, salons, lectures, tours, artists-in-residence, and collaborations with schools and community groups.

About The Temple-Tifereth Israel

The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood, Ohio is a warm, welcoming synagogue family where each person matters. We cherish our rich history and traditions and foster a dynamic culture of imagination and innovation. Members of all ages find meaning and inspiration by developing enduring personal connections with each other, Torah, God, the State of Israel, and the Jewish People, and through acts of justice and compassion.

# # #