James Grashow

James Bruce Grashow (1942–2025) was an American artist celebrated for his extraordinary craftsmanship, intricate woodcut prints, imaginative illustrations, and monumental sculptures constructed from cardboard. His work combined technical precision with humor, symbolism, and a fascination with the complexity and impermanence of human existence.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Grashow studied at Pratt Institute, where he earned both his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees. A Fulbright grant subsequently took him to Florence, Italy, where he further developed his artistic practice.

Grashow established a distinguished career spanning more than six decades. His detailed woodcuts and illustrations appeared in major American publications, while his sculptural work earned recognition for transforming ordinary materials into elaborate architectural forms, human figures, and imaginative environments. His longstanding relationship with Allan Stone Gallery began in 1966.

Among his most celebrated projects was Corrugated Fountain, an elaborate cardboard interpretation of Rome's Trevi Fountain. The sculpture became the subject of the documentary The Cardboard Bernini, which explored Grashow's creative process and his willingness to embrace the eventual deterioration of his own work.

Grashow's art is represented in prominent institutional collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Library of Congress.

His 1986 woodcut Statue of Liberty, created during the monument's centennial year, exemplifies his mastery of elaborate composition and narrative printmaking. Combining patriotic imagery, historical symbolism, and passages from Emma Lazarus's The New Colossus, the work reflects Grashow's ability to transform a familiar American icon into a richly detailed visual narrative.

Through his printmaking, illustration, and sculpture, James Grashow left a distinctive artistic legacy defined by imagination, technical virtuosity, and an enduring appreciation for the beauty and fragility of the human experience.