Richard McBee

Professional Resume

Richard McBee was born in 1947 in New York City. He studied painting at the Art Students League of New York with Jean Liberte and Edward Melcarth. His early works were figurative narratives concentrating on the Bible. Since 1976 he has painted subject matter exclusively from the Torah and Jewish history. In addition to paintings he has also made many figurative relief sculptures, monotypes, unique ceramic menorahs and other Judaica.

From 1976 to 1987 he was active in the Alliance of Figurative Artists, a group of artists that met weekly at the Educational Alliance on the Lower East Side. He was their Program Director in 1983. In 1991 he helped create the American Guild of Judaic Art (an educational and trade association of artists engaged in Jewish Art; see jewishart.org). McBee developed the Jewish Art Forum in 1996 and 1997. This series of free slide lectures in the New York area was given by guest artists and experts in the field of Jewish Art.

Since May 2000 he has written a weekly critical review column in The Jewish Press. His artwork is in many private collections throughout the country.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

Brooklyn Jewish Arts Gallery of Congregation Bnai Jacob; Group Show; (May 15 - June 15, 2003)

The Biblical Artists Group; Retrospective Group show; 55 Mercer Street Gallery, N.Y. (Sept. 2000)

The Binding of Isaac; Group show; Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska & Washington, D.C. Curated by Ori Soltes, director of National Jewish Museum at B'nai Brith, Washington. D.C. (1997-1998)

Abraham & Isaac; One man show of 24 paintings derived from Genesis 22; 1-9; Civic Center Synagogue Gallery; N. Y,, (1996)

Halacha and the Graven Image; The Jewish Center, New York. A group exhibition & slide lecture by Dr. Shalom Sabar (Senior Lecturer, Art History, Hebrew University, Israel) (1996)

Landscapes from Many Times & Places; One man show; Zeckendorf Towers, N.Y. (1994)

Ceremonial Menorah; Shomrim Society, New York Police Department. (1991)

Contemporary Artifacts 1989; National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, Pa.

Triumph and Faith; One man show; Sculpture Installation Fifth Avenue Windows and Lobby, 838 Fifth Avenue; Union of American Hebrew Congregations, N.Y. (1988)

Menorah Presentation; Office of the Consul General, Israeli Consulate, N.Y. (1986); (Reproduced in Celebration, The Book of Jewish Festivals, 1987)

Artists of the Alliance of Figurative Artists; New York Studio School, N.Y. (1984)

Sacred Discontent; Group Show, Gallery 120, N.Y. (1981)

Biblical Paintings; One man show, Gallery 120, N.Y. (1980)

Artists in the Biblical Tradition; Hudson Guild Gallery, N,Y, (1979)

Biblical and Mythical Themes; 47 Bond Street Gallery, N.Y. (1977)

PUBLICATIONS AND LECTURES

Jewish Arts - Weekly Exhibition & Critical Review column published in The Jewish Press. (starting May 2000)

Symbols of Absence - Book Review of Jewish Art by Gabrielle Sed-Rajna, Abrams 1997; Published on the web site of the American Guild of Judaic Art (jewishart.org). (1999)

The Golden Haggadah - A Preview of Pesach, A lecture examining the meanings and biblical references in a I5th century illuminated Passover manuscript. Cooper Union Student Group. (March 1998)

Our Lights Through the Ages - Hanukiot - A slide lecture and survey of three hundred years of Hanukah menorahs in light of the different forms and symbols employed. Young Israel of Fifth Ave., N.Y. (1997)

Rabbis Look at Jewish Art - A slide presentation with art historical background and a dialogue with a prominent orthodox rabbi, Rabbi Allen Schwartz, on the issues raised in six works of Jewish Art. Congregation Ohab Zedek, N.Y. (1997)

The Binding of Isaac, Select Visions - Slide lecture. An art historical survey of 40 works of art from Jewish and non-Jewish sources covering 1800 years of representations of the Binding of Isaac, Genesis 22; Congregation Ohab Zedek, N.Y. (1997)

Working with the Akeidah for 15 Years - Slide presentation reviewing 15 years of painting Genesis 22; 1-9, in conjunction with one man exhibition at Civic Center Synagogue Gallery, N.Y. (1996)

Idolatry - Torah's War Against the Image - Slide presentation in conjunction with presentation by Rabbi Richard Borah concerning the prohibition of idolatry as discussed in rabbinic sources. Congregation Ohab Zedek, N.Y. (1996)

Jewish Art - Hersey or Decoration - A slide lecture at Jewish Art forum. Young Israel of Fifth Avenue, N.Y. (June 1996)

The Tabernacle - Palace of the Forbidden - Cooper Union Student Group. (March 1996)

Binding of Isaac - Who is bound to whom? Dura, Caravaggio, Rembrandt. Unpublished (1995)

Picturing God - Chagall's etchings; 'The Bible' - Exhibition review; Jewish Week. (August, 1995)

Richard McBee; 682 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10012; 212 533 2836; rmcbee@nyc.rr.com