Edward Biberman

Edward Biberman’s extraordinary paintings may not have brought him great fame and fortune, but there are far better ways to judge art and life.  Biberman followed a singular path that led to a visionary body of work, and along the way introduced him to some of the most creative figures of the 20th century. 

Biberman’s artistic journey took him from Philadelphia to Paris in the 1920s, to Berlin, New York, New Mexico and then Los Angeles from 1935 to his death in 1986.  Along the way, he had memorable encounters with Paul Robeson, Lena Horne, Joan Crawford, Frida Kahlo, Isamu Noguchi, Alexander Calder, Salvador Dali, Georgia O'Keefe, Dashiell Hammett, Martha Graham, Diego Rivera, Gale Sondergaard, and Edward Weston.

Movie-star handsome with more than his share of youthful exploits, Biberman’s head turned, as did his life, when he met the beautiful, brilliant, and politically charged Sonja Dahl.  Their fifty-year romance brings a heat to Brush With Life that's all too rare, in relationships and in movies.  Now a remarkably vibrant 95-year-old, Sonja Dahl Biberman is a refreshingly honest guide to her husband's life and work, and an inspiration in her own right.

Biberman’s art evolved from stylized portraits, to grand historical murals, to passionate pleas for social justice, to the starkly beautiful urban landscapes that first captured the haunting character of Southern California.  Each phase grew out of a quiet but determined quest for artistic exploration - - and a deep desire to help create a better world.  It’s a remarkable career that deserves recognition, and offers important lessons for today.