Mel Leipzig
American painter (1935–2025)

Mel Leipzig
Born
Melvin Donald Leipzig

(1935-05-23)May 23, 1935
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Died2025
Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationCooper Union, Yale University (BFA), Pratt Institute (MFA)
OccupationsVisual artist, arts educator
Known forPainter, printmaker, portraitist
Children2
Websitewww.melleipzig.com

Melvin Donald Leipzig (May 23, 1935 – 2025) was an American visual artist and arts educator, known for his realist portraits in acrylic paint.[1][2] He lived in Trenton, New Jersey, and exhibited his work both nationally and internationally.[3][4][5]

Life and career

Mel Leipzig was born on May 23, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York City.[3][4][6] He attended Cooper Union, and received a BFA degree at Yale University, and a MFA degree at Pratt Institute.[7]

From 1968 until 2013, Leipzig taught art courses at Mercer County Community College.[4] Starting in 1990 Leipzig painted with a limited palette, in four colors: dark blue, dark red, yellow and white.[2] He was profiled on the television series State of the Arts on NJ PBS, in an episode titled "Mel Leipzig: Everything is Paintable" (2017).[8]

Leipzig’s artwork can be found in the collections of the New Jersey State Museum,[3] the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University,[9][10] the Yale University Art Gallery,[11] the Whitney Museum,[12] the National Academy Museum[13] and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.[4]

Leipzig was a longtime resident of Trenton, New Jersey. He died in Princeton, New Jersey, in 2025 at the age of 90.[14] The date of his death was reported variously as October 31[3] or November 1.[4][6][14]

References

  1. ^ Wallner, Susan (October 10, 2008). "Mel Leipzig, Painter". Discover Jersey Arts. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Genocchio, Benjamin (July 31, 2009). "Celebrating Talent and Taste (Published 2009)". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Schultz, Eric (November 5, 2025). "Remembering Mel Leipzig". State Of The Arts - NJ. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e Strunsky, Steve (November 2, 2025). "Mel Leipzig, renowned Trenton artist and educator, dies at 90". nj.com. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  5. ^ "Trenton Honors the Late Mel Leipzig with Exhibition at City Hall". Trentonian. November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Obituary information for Melvin D Leipzig". Wilson Apple Funeral Home. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  7. ^ Forman, Debbie (May 29, 2019). "Mel Leipzig and the art of painting artists". Wicked Local. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  8. ^ State of the Arts: Mel Leipzig: Everything is Paintable (Trailer and text). 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2025 – via NJ PBS.
  9. ^ Leipzig, Mel. "Jersey City Studio". Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  10. ^ Leipzig, Mel. "Will Kasso from the portfolio A Portfolio of Prints in Honor of Victor Davson". Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  11. ^ Benincasa, Christopher (October 31, 2018). "Artist Mel Leipzig at 83". Discover Jersey Arts. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  12. ^ "Mel Leipzig". Whitney.org. 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  13. ^ Leipzig, Mel. "Francesca at the Door". National Academy of Design. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Roberts, Sam (December 3, 2025). "Mel Leipzig, Painter Called the 'Chekhov of Trenton,' Dies at 90". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  • Video: State of the Arts: Mel Leipzig: Everything is Paintable. 2017 – via NJ PBS.
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