Samuel Dubiner (1914–1993)
Betty Parsons (1900–1982)
Betty Parsons (1900–1982) was an American artist, art dealer, and collector known for her early promotion of Abstract Expressionism. She is regarded as one of the most influential and dynamic figures of the American avantgarde.
note on the provenance Samuel Dubiner (1914–1993), born in Canada in 1914, developed a reputation as a visionary businessman and creative inventor, particularly for his involvement in the manufacturing and marketing of the ‘Yo-Yo’ in the 1930s. He was also a prolific art collector and philanthropist.
Parsons was referred to as “the den mother of Abstract Expressionism”, and was an early advocate of the great Abstract Expressionists – Pollock, Rothko, Reinhardt, Still, and Newman – long before they all achieved notoriety. Her midtown gallery, which opened in 1946 (and closed every summer so that Parsons could focus on her own art), gave the Abstract Expressionist artists their first large-scale exposure, making it one of the most prestigious art galleries in New York. In its later years, the Parsons Gallery did much to promote the works of many gay, lesbian and bisexual artists, including Agnes Martin, Ellsworth Kelly, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg.
Having always been an avid collector, he opened Galerie Israel and used his position to support new and struggling artists, as well as instigating various projects worldwide to promote young Jewish artists. He developed a fascination with stylized animal forms within art, and made numerous movies and documentaries, a large number of which focused on ancient Persian terracotta ‘Amlash’ vessels. Perhaps the most famous of these was the 1974 animation ‘Ha’Ya’ar HaKasum’. He also became a passionate writer and researcher of Pre-Columbian, tribal, African and ancient art. Samuel Dubiner passed away in 1993 but left behind a legacy of art promotion within Israel. He used shrewd business and economic tactics for good, not personal prosperity, donating generously to aid organizations and charities. He was enthusiastic to learn and eager to share this vast knowledge with the world.
The Betty Parsons Gallery’s first exhibition, in September 1946, was organized together with Barnett Newman and Tony Smith. Newman, who wrote for many of the catalogues on behalf of the Gallery, noted: “It is becoming more and more apparent that to understand Modern art, one must have an appreciation of the primitive arts, for just as modern
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