John Lieberman Papers

John Lieberman (1955-2018) was born in Detroit on November 3rd, 1955. Lieberman was prolific, exploding the boundaries of many mediums including: drawing, performance art, printmaking, painting, cartooning, ceramics, and photography. Early in Lieberman's childhood, in response to being blacklisted, his father set up his own printing shop in their Detroit home. This resulted in an early immersion in socialism and a lifelong dedication to political action and the power of unions. Lieberman's works always reflected his roots: political, blue collar. In the early 70s he attended Northern Michigan University, returned to Detroit to work in a steel plant, and then moved to Brooklyn, NY to attend Pratt Institute.

Lieberman was larger than life as a personality and as a creator- his work was wildly inventive, often sardonic, humorous yet deeply compassionate. In the early 80s he earned an MFA from Pratt Institute. During this time, he was one of the earliest originators of the burgeoning Williamsburg performance, pop-up shows and material artist scene (Mudd Club, Franklin Furnace, P.S. 122. Arleen Schloss's A's). After many years in NYC he moved to Philadelphia and then Seattle, finally settling in Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles he established a respected career managing sets for Hollywood studios and continued to produce art. He always had an entourage of artists and avant-garde personalities around him, maintaining friendships across many decades and large geographical distances. When he eventually married, the ceremony was attended by no less than six ex-girlfriends. A unique and complex character, Johnny Lieberman was childlike throughout his life- ceaselessly productive, fearless in his explorations, veering maniacally along knife edges of destruction and creation. Many describe him as one of their greatest influences; certainly their greatest friend. He was a unique and important artist.

Biography provided by Suzanne Marshall.