William Brice

Common card · No. 246053

William Arnstein, professionally William Brice (April 23, 1921 – March 3, 2008) was an American artist known for his large-scale abstract paintings. Born to actress Fanny Brice and her second husband, professional gambler Julius W. "Nicky" Arnstein, April 23, 1921, he spent his early years living with his mother and his sister, Frances (later the wife of producer Ray Stark), while their father was in prison on a variety of charges stemming from a history of thefts, swindles, and confidence schemes. Artists such as Clifford Odets and the Gershwin brothers were frequent visitors. William's talent was recognized early, and even in childhood, he had the services of a private art tutor. Important influences included then-active artists Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso (one of whose works Brice acquired at the age of fourteen). Their mother, pursuing a career in radio, moved them to Beverly Hills. There he attended the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (1937–39, 1940–42), as well as the...

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