James Rizzi

James Rizzi (1950 - 2011)

James Rizzi was an American pop artist known for his vibrant and playful works. He was born on October 5, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York, and passed away on December 26, 2011. Rizzi's artworks were inspired by urban lifestyles and architecture, and they are characterized by their lively colors, playful forms, and detailed depictions. His works have been exhibited worldwide and can be found in many collections and galleries. Rizzi was known for his unique style and memorable 3D works, often referred to as "3D trompe-l'oeil."

James Rizzi was born to an Irish mother and an Italian family father and grew up as one of three children in the Brooklyn neighborhood of East 8th Street. Rizzi graduated from Holy Innocents Grammar School in Brooklyn and then attended Erasmus High School, also in Brooklyn. Starting in 1969, he studied art at the University of Florida in Gainesville. During his studies, he began exploring the combination of painting and sculpture and eventually developed the technique of 3D graphics that he frequently used. After completing his studies in 1974, he had his first opportunity to showcase his works to the public at the Brooklyn Museum in New York.

With increasing popularity, galleries and museums became interested in his works, but Rizzi also found a wide range of creative outlets beyond painting. He designed album/CD covers, animated music videos, and various everyday items, ranging from telephone cards to Rosenthal porcelain. Numerous solo exhibitions and awards followed, making James Rizzi one of the most popular contemporary artists of the Pop Art movement during his lifetime.

Rizzi actively engaged in charitable endeavors in collaboration with German organizations. For example, in cooperation with the Lions Club Krefeld Rheintor, the proceeds from a complete limited and signed edition of the lithograph "Gone With The Wind" were donated to the victims of the hurricane disaster in New Orleans. He also took on the sponsorship of a school project for the Lakota Indian tribe in South Dakota as part of Peter Maffay's "Begegnungen" project, which was under the patronage of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.