Completes 55 Racial Harmony Murals in the New York City area with Malcolm X images. Appears on
Fox TV, MTV and various radio stations to speak out on racial harmony. Accepts award as
Underground Artist of the Year. Paints Mickey Mantle’s portrait for Mantle’s Restaurant. Paints Joe
Frazier’s portrait to raise money for Police Athletic League. Creates AIDS Memorial in New York
City. Drapes red fabric over the letter “D”on the Hollywood Sign in remembrance of everyone who has
died of AIDS. Art collected by Spike Lee, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Dee Williams, Eddie Murphy and
Larry Mullen of U
Art Studio moves to Los Angeles, California. Starts a new style called “Comic Book Pop Art”. Uses
original paintings of superheroes-Superman, Batman, Spider Man, to name a few, as the icons. Hires
more than 100 Los Angeles ex-gang kids from prison to assist him in the studio.
Published works for Martin Lawrence Limited Editions. Hand paints limited editions giving new
meaning to hand-embellishment. Creates limited editions of Beethoven, which sold out and Marilyn
Monroe, breaking all sales records for a new artist. Creates portraits of Muhammad Ali and John
Travolta, who autographed their editions. First artist to form a bridge between Marvel Comics (Spider
Man) and DC Comics (Superman). Works with Stan Lee, who autographed the editions.
Starts following programs:
. Works with Los Angeles “South Central” parole officers.
. Hires more than 200 kids from prison to work in the studio.
. Receives award from Los Angeles Mayor Riordan.
. Increases charity work to include 100 different charities.
Contacts the Sinatra Family about painting Mr. Sinatra’s portrait. Campbell’s asks Steve to paint a
limited edition to mark Campbell’s Soup’s 100th Year Anniversary. Paints Ali’s face on 500 boxing
gloves, proving that art doesn’t have to be on canvas. By now, 325 kids have worked for the Art
Studio and 85% have gone on to a better way of life. Paints two Harley-Davidson motorcycles, one a
Campbell’s Soup theme and the other a Cohiba Cigar theme. Later, the gas tank was hand signed
by Cuban Leader Fidel Castro. Creates Ali portrait for the 1996 Olympics. Ali signs the edition for the
first time with both his Muslim name Muhammad Ali and his birth name, Cassius Clay.
Tina Sinatra features Kaufman’s portraits of Frank Sinatra on Larry King’s CNN show. Holds art
shows in Japan and Amsterdam. Has boxing exhibition versus Don Diego, a European boxing
champion. After some minor controversy, Kaufman is awarded a win. Paints a Harley-Davidson
motorcycle for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. The bike is driven around Dodger Stadium
before each game and televised to millions of homes. By now, has hired 546 ex-gang kids and
homeless. Supports more than 175 charities.
Has a cardiac episode and a motorcycle accident. Quoted afterwards:
“I’m truly blessed to be doing what I’ve always wanted-To CREATE. I have found a freedom that is
hard to put into words. I always wondered about my projects-which artists are working on what and
which directions should I take? I don’t even think of those things now. I passionately go into my
studio and ask myself-what would I like to create today?”
Releases Sinatra’s Rat Pack and Mug Shot, Al Pacino as The Godfather and Scarface, New York City’s radio shock jock icon Howard Stern, Barbie and two new Marilyn Monroe editions. Releases
Van Gogh and Picasso in a new style 100% hand-painted edition, which gives new meaning to the
hand-embellishment process.
Continues to support more than 170 charities each year. Has hired 759 ex-gang kids to date to work
in the studio. Creates two new styles called “Portrait Collage” and “Museum Art”, thus becoming his
14th and 15th distinct style, to compare only to Picasso’s many different styles. “Portrait Collage”
style is emphasized in his Rat Pack, Hollywood Marilyn, Van Gogh and Jackie Kennedy by adding a
collage of images to the main portrait. “Museum Art” includes a September 11th Memorial Painting
which was a tribute to the heroes of the World Trade Center attacks. Created a 20’ x 500’ series of
paintings to commemorate the 35 Year History of Caesar’s Palace. Both hung at Caesar’s for all to
enjoy. Created a 10’ Fender guitar for The Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame in Ohio.
Donated Princess Diana portrait to Elton John AIDS Foundation. Starts new program placing
paintings of his icon images in public places around the country for all to enjoy his art. Includes a
Muhammad Ali in Brooklyn’s famous Gleason’s Boxing Gym, a Sinatra portrait to Hofstra University,
a Marilyn to the Foundation Fighting Blindness and gifted a painting to David Letterman to inspire
heart recovery. Exhibitions in New York, Las Vegas and Maui.
Suffers a major stroke following Art Expo, New York. Barely recovers to do exhibition in Las Vegas
hosted by Robin Leach and honored by Mayor Oscar Goodman, officially declaring May 21, 2003,
Steve Kaufman Day in Las Vegas. Also honored by Nevada Senator Ensign and Nevada Governor Guinn for his philanthropic donations over the years. In December, meets President Clinton at his
Office in Harlem for a holiday party for artists whose art hangs in his private office collection. Donated art to and participated in Love Ride with Jay Leno and Peter Fonda for the 10th straight year.
Creates and releases President Clinton’s portrait. Donates many suites and all proceeds from his
sales to “Give Kids A Break”. Feeling ill again, curtails his painting and exhibition schedule.
Introduced “Uniques” which are multiple originals of his most famous Icons: Marilyn, The Rat Pack,
Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Einstein, etc. Exhibitions in New York, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and
Maui. Donates100% of his proceeds from a $100,000 gallery sale to “Give Kids A Break”. Pope John
Paul II accepts painting of the Pope to hang in his private office at The Vatican. Paints portraits of
Lance Armstrong that are displayed in galleries during Tour de France. Created painting and limited
edition to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Created paintings of Mercedes SLR McLauren
to honor the 100th year anniversary of Mercedes Benz.
Feeling healthier, drastically increases his exhibition schedule with New York, Las Vegas,
Washington, D.C., Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Denver, Santa Fe, Rancho Mirage, Newport Beach,
Laguna Beach, Key West and Maui. Introduces “Mini-Heart Paintings” as gifts to all kids who attend
his shows and free framed plates for all those who purchase. Returns to creating one of a kind
originals to be sold exclusively at shows. Goes to Ellis Island as guest of Lee Iacocca for New York
Society Event. Meets Ernie Anastos, creates his portrait and presents them on the set of Fox News,
NY.
Continues exhibition schedule with New York, Washington, D.C., Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Denver,
Rancho Mirage, Maui, Toronto and Europe. Gives Free Peace Sign paintings to all the kids who
attend his shows and free sculptures to those who purchase. Creates portraits for David Caruso of
CSI-Miami fame which he autographs at the studio. Interviewed on TV in Denver, Aspen and Vail to
not only discuss his art but more importantly, his philanthropy. Continues to sell out uniques of his
most famous icons including: The Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, Las Vegas, Marilyn, The Beatles, James
Dean, Einstein, John Lennon, $100 Bills to name a few.
Continues to hire more and more gang kids for the studio. This opportunity represents a second
chance in life for each of the kids which now exceeds 1950 in number Golden Boy Promotions
commissions paintings to commemorate the De La Hoya / Mayweather Championship Fight.
Eight Annual Exhibition at Centaur Gallery in Las Vegas where art hangs next to Neiman’s,
Rockwell’s, Picasso’s, Chagall’s and Dali’s. Unveiled and sold new stained glass uniques of The Las
Vegas Sign, Homage To Lichtenstein and Homage to Picasso’s. Other exhibitions include New York,
Denver, Washington, D.C., Vail, Beaver Creek, La Jolla, Laguna Beach and Newport.
To be continued as the interesting and exciting life of Steve Kaufman goes on!
© gallery one writer's square, all rights reserved
1991-92
1993-94
1995
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1997-98
1999-2000
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2003
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2008
Steve Kaufman
Gallery One Writer's Square
Paintings Graphics Sculptures
Denver Colorado Art Gallery
