Isaiah Zagar Art
American, b. 1939
Isaiah Zagar is an award-winning mosaic mural artist whose work can be found on more than 200 public walls throughout the city of Philadelphia and around the world. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Brooklyn, Zagar received his B.F.A. in Painting & Graphics at the Pratt Institute of Art in New York City. When he was 19 years old, Zagar discovered the folk art installations of Clarence Schmidt in Woodstock, New York. Influenced by Schmidt, Picasso, Jean Debuffet, Kurt Schwitters, Antonio Gaudi, Simon Rodia and Joseph Ferdinand Cheval, he was inspired to include the concepts of untrained artists as manifestations of fine art.
Zagar’s artwork is heavily influenced by his travels and the personal connections he has made with international folk and visionary artists. Isaiah and his wife Julia completed three years of Peace Corps service in Peru in the mid-1960s, working with folk artists in the Puno region near Lake Titicaca. Soon after, they settled in Philadelphia and began their lifelong work of creating public art and fostering creativity in all its varied forms.
In addition to his three-year Peace Corps service in Peru, Isaiah has completed artist residencies in Tianjin, China, and Rajasthan, India. He also participated in a residency at the Kohler Co. Pottery Foundry in Wisconsin.
Zagar’s work is included in the permanent collections of numerous art institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and has been featured in solo exhibitions throughout the Philadelphia area. Zagar has received grants for his artistic excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pew Charitable Trusts for his work in Interdisciplinary Arts.
Isaiah Zagar has gained recognition in various films and publications, most notably in the 2008 documentary, In A Dream, created by his son, Jeremiah Zagar. He has spoken at several prominent conferences and artists’ lectures both domestically and internationally. Through 40+ years of creating artwork on a grand, public scale, Zagar has helped shape Philadelphia into a thriving creative community.(Biography provided by Paradigm Gallery + Studio)
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"Sexual Self" Woodcut Relief, Mirror and Glass Mosaic
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Sexual Self" is an original mosaic by Isaiah Zagar measuring 17in x 29in. This piece ships in the pictured wooden frame.
Isaiah Zagar is an award-winning mosaic mural artist who...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art
Materials
Clay, Woodcut, Mirror, Mixed Media, Mosaic
Become A Phenomenon
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original fabric work by Isaiah Zagar created in collaboration with Gubercindo Tella in LaPaz, Bolivia in 1985. The piece measures 47”h x 34”w.
Isaiah Zagar is an award-w...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Isaiah Zagar Art
Materials
Fabric
"Angry Chinese Painter Series II" Ink on Xuan paper
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. This piece is part of h...
Category
20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art
Materials
Ink, Rice Paper
"Angry Chinese Painter XII" Ink on Xuan paper
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. This piece is part of h...
Category
20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art
Materials
Ink, Rice Paper
"Angry Chinese Painter Series I" Ink on Xuan paper
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Isaiah Zagar created this piece during an artist residency in Tianjin, China in the late 1980s where he learned traditional Chinese brush painting techniques. This piece is part of ...
Category
20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art
Materials
Ink, Rice Paper
The Artist As Star
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original fabric work by Isaiah Zagar created in collaboration with Gubercindo Tella in LaPaz, Bolivia in 1985. The piece measures 47”h x 34”w.
Isaiah Zagar is an award-w...
Category
20th Century Contemporary Isaiah Zagar Art
Materials
Fabric
Mythic Overtones
By Isaiah Zagar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original fabric work by Isaiah Zagar created in collaboration with Gubercindo Tella in LaPaz, Bolivia in 1985. The piece measures 47”h x 34”w.
Isaiah Zagar is an award-w...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Isaiah Zagar Art
Materials
Fabric
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1983 Horace Richter Gallery Old Jaffa
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1974 Delson Richter Gallery Old Jaffa
1972 University of Jewish Studies Miami, Florida
1971 Jewish Museum New York
1970 Norman Gallery Canada
1970 Sharei Tzedek Congregation Winnipeg, Canada
1970 Gallery of the Year Los Angeles
1970 Gallery of the Year Scottsdale
1969 Gleeman Gallery Chicago
1969 Israel Congregation of the Northern Coast Chicago
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Isaiah Zagar art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Isaiah Zagar art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of orange, pink, purple and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Isaiah Zagar in fabric, handmade paper, ink and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Isaiah Zagar art, so small editions measuring 28 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Tricia Butski, Oliver Hazard, and Ed Templeton. Isaiah Zagar art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,000 and tops out at $1,000, while the average work can sell for $1,000.