http://www.segalfoundation.org/about_bio.html
George Segal was born in New York on November 26, 1924, to a Jewish couple who emigrated from Eastern Europe. His parents first settled in the Bronx where they ran a butcher shop and later moved to a New Jersey poultry farm.
George spent many of his early years working on the poultry farm, helping his family through difficult times. George lived with his aunt in Brooklyn so that he could attend Stuyvesant Technical High School and prepare himself for a future in the math/science field. It was here that George first discovered his love for art.
During World War II, he had to curtail his studies in order to help on the family poultry farm. He later attended Pratt, Cooper Union, and finally New York University where he furthered his art education and received a teaching degree in 1949. It was during these years that Segal met other young artists eager to make statements based on the real world rather than the pure abstractionism that was all the rage. He joined the 10th Street scene because of it.
After his marriage to Helen in 1946, they bought their own chicken farm. In order to support his family during the lean years he taught Art and English at the local high school and at Rutgers University.
After his marriage to Helen in 1946, they bought their own chicken farm. In order to support his family during the lean years he taught Art and English at the local high school and at Rutgers University.
In 1961, Segal first started using his body as a mold for plaster sheets. He created an inviormeant for it as well.
From 1965 to 1999, George Segal was represented exclusively by the Sidney Janis Gallery, New York. During this time Segal was very influential in the pop art seen during this time.
The last years of his life were filled with new creation and expression. He created black and white photographs of the streets of New York & New Jersey. He remained active, engaged and productive until his death on June 9, 2000.
