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View Larger Image and Additional Photos of Joel IskowitzAbout Joel Iskowitz : Fine Art Illustration and design: Art that tells a story.
I am a narrative artist.
Simply stated:I tell stories with images.
I have been honored and privileged to have had the opportunity interpret via my artwork some of humankind's most stirring histories.
Joel Iskowitz: Master Coin Designer
A classically trained painter and narrative artist whose art, as he likes to say, tells stories with images, Joel Iskowitz, is also widely acclaimed as a master coin designer who has had a significant impact on the numismatic world. He is prolific in all the various media in which he has worked.
His work extends from graphic design and illustration to creating beautiful paintings for the Air Force and NASA, murals and other large-scale public artworks, and designing thousands of stamps, coins, and medals for countries as well as private mints and companies.
In short, he is an artistic genius and one of the most accomplished and versatile artists working today who can create a portrait that not only resembles an individual closely but captures that person’s spirit. Those talents are clearly seen in works such as the portrait of Albert Einstein he created for NASA or his lithograph of a scene with President Theodore Roosevelt and Victor David Brenner, who designed the original Lincoln Cent.
Among his many especially notable achievements is the fact that he is the only U.S. artist who has created an official effigy of Her Majesty the Queen for U.K. coinage and one of the very few artists whose work has been exhibited everywhere from the U.S. Capitol to the White House, Pentagon, NASA and museums such as the Smithsonian. His medallic work has even been sent into space aboard missions of the Space Shuttle, which he documented in paintings for NASA.
A native of the Bronx in New York City who was inducted in 2017 to the Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame, Iskowitz had already developed an interest in art as a child and, in 1964, graduated from the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He then attended Hunter College and received a scholarship to attend Yale during his junior year. However, he did not like Yale’s focus on abstract art, graduating from Hunter in 1968—a college that would later induct him into its Hall of Fame.
In the 1970s, he worked briefly as a portrait artist in San Francisco and then returned to New York to work as a graphic artist designing covers for rock albums and books for young adults. From there, he began to create postage stamps that would eventually total over 2,000 for more than 40 different countries, which were the fruit of his approach to art, which involves first closely studying and researching a topic so that the finished work is as accurate as possible a representation of the subject. As he has noted, he always strives “to employ the highest aesthetic standards possible” and not to let any “aesthetic theory or stylistic manifestos obscure the history of the subject.”
Remarkable Journey in Coin Design
Iskowitz has also said, “Classic art isn’t an era. Modern designs do not need to break with the past.” Furthermore, his numerous designs for coins and medals resonate with collectors who appreciate his remarkable portraits of leaders and the timeless sensibility and beauty of his medallic creations that favorably compare to those of the past masters of American coinage like Agustus Saint-Gaudens, Adolph A. Weinman, and James Earle Fraser, among others.
That is true, for example, of his designs for the American Platinum Eagle series, which began with the one for the 2006 1-ounce Proof featuring Clio, the muse of History, in a winged chariot. Iskowitz’s coin designs frequently feature allegorical images, such as versions of Britannia and Marianne and his series Goddesses Without Borders. He also created Lady Liberty motifs for the American Platinum Eagle series in 2011, 2013, and 2015.
Iskowitz’s work for the United States Mint began in 2005 when he was accepted to the prestigious Artistic Infusion Program of outside artists who work on a contract basis alongside the Mint’s in-house artists and engravers. He continued this work until 2017, eventually creating an impressive 54 designs for U.S. coins and medals.
That work includes the 2009 one-year-only Lincoln Bicentennial Cent depicting the late president’s professional life, which was minted to the tune of almost 700 million examples—perhaps the highest tribute to a modern medallic artist. He went on to design coins for many series, including four for the Presidential Dollar Program honoring Presidents John Adams, James Madison, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren; and ten First Spouse Gold Coins, including Dolly Madison, Julia Tyler, and many others.
He has also designed eight America the Beautiful Quarters such as those for Gettysburg, Everglades, Bombay Hook, Theodore Roosevelt Park, Lowell Park and War in the Pacific Park (which are among the most admired designs). In addition, eight Commemorative Coins for the Bald Eagle Silver Dollar, Medal of Honor $5 Gold Coin, Star-Spangled Banner Silver Dollar, Marshall Service Half Dollar, and others. Furthermore, some of his best U.S. coin designs grace 5 American Platinum Eagles.
Then there are his medal designs for the U.S. Mint, including a remarkable 14 Congressional Gold Medals. That includes the one designed for and given to the astronauts of Apollo 11 and John Glenn and for Monuments Men, Special Forces, soldiers in World War II, Fallen Heroes of 9/11, and the Code Talkers.
On top of that are his many coin designs for world and private mints, including one in 2021 for the centennial of the Morgan Dollar, a series of gold coins depicting allegorical images of victory from World War I, and many others. Then there are the many medals he has designed for non-profit foundations like the American Numismatic Association and other entities.
Recent Work
His recent numismatic work includes “The Lost States” for the Cook Islands and a legal tender series called “Icons of Inspiration” for Niue. Additionally, he created a series for Saint Helena featuring Greek goddesses, starting with Hera. Another project is the “Founders of Liberty” series, with Benjamin Franklin portraits.
Not surprisingly, Iskowitz has received numerous accolades and awards for his work, such as a 2016 International Design Award Gold Medal for one of his U.S. medals, a 2008 silver medal in corporate illustration, a 2010 Coin of the Year Award nomination, and many others.
In late 2020, a special exhibit of his work that is now online permanently called “Icons of Inspiration” was first featured from October 20 to November 7 that year at the Atlantic Gallery in New York City. The exhibit was organized into topical areas. These included his governmental work for coins, medals, stamps, U.S. Air Force and NASA art, and numerous international and private sector commissions.
As he enters his late 70s, Iskowitz is not slowing down and remains very active, creating superb works of art, which, as he has noted, are intended to be “goodwill ambassadors” for the world that depict highlights of the story of humanity to help improve understanding and mutual respect among the many countries and cultures of the world. Those worthy goals were exemplified in the medal he created for the Shanghai Mint in China, showing allegorical representations of the East meeting the West and paying tribute to the spirit of cooperation between the U.S. and China.
For all these reasons, Iskowitz’s work continues to be widely admired and in demand worldwide, and the kind of elegant art he creates will likely remain popular hundreds of years from now.
ORGANIZATION:
The Mountain Studio
NON-DESIGN OCCUPATION:
Artist, painter Media, graphic, printing, culture, design
EDUCATION:
Music and Art High School (Drawing Award)
BFA Hunter College, Yale Summer Art School Scholarship
EXPERIENCE:
Involved in every phase of illustration and graphic design in a variety of media from publishing, book illustration and cover art, stamp, coin and medallic design to murals and art in public spaces.
U.S. Mint Design Credits
•2019 America the Beautiful Lowell MA Quarter Dollar, Reverse
•2019 America the Beautiful Guam Quarter Dollar, Reverse
•2017 Lions Clubs International Centennial Silver Dollar,Obverse
•2017 Filipino veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal,Obverse
•2016 Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal,Obverse
• 2016 Monuments Men Congressional Gold Medal, Obverse
• 2016 First Spouse Gold Coin, Nancy Reagan, reverse
• 2016 America the Beautiful Quarters,Theodore Roosevelt National Park reverse
• 2015 First Special Service Force Congressional Gold Medal, Obverse
• 2015 First Spouse Gold Coin, Bess Truman, obverse and reverse
• 2015 Fallen Heroes of 911 Congressional Gold Medal, NY Obverse
• 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Bombay Hook National Park Quarter, reverse
• 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Everglades National Park Quarter, reverse
• 2014 First Spouse Gold Coin, Edith Roosevelt, obverse
• 2013 Seminole Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medal, obverse
• 2013 Ponca Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medal, obverse and reverse
• 2013 Tonto Apache Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medal, obverse
• 2013 Hopi Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medal, obverse and reverse
• 2013 Assiniboine Sioux Code Talkers Congressional Gold Medal, reverse
• 2013 American Platinum Eagle reverse (To Provide for the General Welfare)
• 2012 First Spouse Gold Coin Frances Cleveland (term 1) obverse
• 2012 Star Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin silver obverse
• 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar obverse
• 2011 American Eagle Platinum Coin reverse (To Insure Domestic Tranquility)
• 2011 First Spouse Gold Coin, Eliza Johnson obverse
• 2011 New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal obverse and reverse
• 2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin gold reverse
• 2011 U.S. Army Commemorative Coin gold obverse
• 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Gettysburg National Military Park reverse
• 2011 Nisei Soldiers of WW II Congressional Gold Medal obverse
• 2010 First Spouse Gold Coin Mary Todd Lincoln reverse
• 2009 Women Air Force Service Pilots Congressional Gold Medal obverse
• 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters reverse
• 2009 First Spouse Gold Coin Julia Tyler obverse and reverse
• 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Coin, Professional Life, Illinois reverse
• 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Commemorative Silver Coin obverse
• 2008 American Eagle Platinum Coin, Judicial reverse
• 2008 Presidential $1 Coin, Andrew Jackson obverse
• 2008 Presidential $1 Coin, Martin Van Buren obverse
• 2008 First Spouse Gold Coin, Elizabeth Monroe obverse
• 2008 Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin, Silver obverse
• 2008 50 State Quarters Program, Arizona reverse
• 2007 First Spouse Gold Coin, Dolley Madison reverse
• 2007 Presidential $1 Coin John Adams obverse
• 2007 Presidential $1 Coin James Madison obverse
• 2006 American Eagle Platinum Coin, Legislative reverse
PRIVATE EXHIBITIONS:
2005-PRESENT, Work in in major museums, such as the Smithsonian, the Lincoln Presidential Home and Museum, the Old State House Columbus Ohio, the Historical Society of Carenten France, The 911 Memorial Museum, the permanent collection of the Pentagon, NASA and the U.S.Capitol.
2009, Artwork (First Spouse coin Designs) has been displayed at the White House.
One Man Exhibition "Icons of Inspiration" 2020 at the Atlantic Gallery NYC
MIXED EXHIBITIONS:
1998-PRESENT,"Our OwnShow"Society of Illustrators, NY,USA
1999 "Take Two on Stars", Graphic Collectibles Gallery, two man show with Robert Risko, NY,USA
2011, Society of Illustrators ANNUAL"53", NY,USA
2012, New York Historical Society Museum "Lincoln in NY" , NY,USA
2014.NEW YORK LANDMARKS SHOW ,Society of Illustrators, NY,USA
EVENTS:
2015 The first non UK subject (American) to design a Sovereign for the UK,Queen Elizabeth II for the TDC obverse shilling. London, UK
2009-2015, Six (6) Congressional Gold Medal Ceremonies ,Washington,DC. USA
2009, Lincoln Cent debut and lecture, Old State House Springfield, Illinois, USA
2009 Dedication ceremony of my Litho, "The Filthy 13",WW II Historical Museum of the Carentin-Brevands, France
2007, Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, Debut of my portraits of John Adams and James Madison,Washington,DC, USA
2008,My portrait of Louis Braille for the Silver Dollar honoring him flew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis ,Kennedy Space Center,USA and orbiting the earth.
2007, The White House, debut of my portrait of Dolley Madison, DC,USA
AWARDS:
2015, A Design Award Excellence in Design,Bronze, Lake Como,Italy
2012, Coin of the Year (COTY) United States nominee for Most Inspirational Coin
2102, International Design Awards (IDA), Bronze
2011, International Design Awards (IDA), Bronze
2011, Society of Illustrators 53rd Annual Exhibition 2011
2012, Applied Arts Winner’s Circle Award
2004-2009, Creative Shake International, Competition Merit, Bronze and Silver awards
2008, Coin of the Year (COTY) United States nominee for Most Artistic Coin
1996, Stamp of the Month Award, United Kingdom
2011, inducted into the Hunter College Hall of Fame.
PRESS APPEARANCES:
1986-Present, Joel Iskowitz presents his artwork in illustrated lectures at universities and professional organizations,including the Fashion Institute of Technology,Syracuse University ,Marywood College,The Society of Illustrators, Fordham University,Hunter College, Montclair State University, the American Numismatic Association,the American Numismatic Association, The Lions Club,The Rotary Club, The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts, International,The World's Fair of Money, the Woodstock School of Art, the School of Visual Art and the New York Numismatic Club.CSPAN aired a one hour illustrated talk" Designing Congressional Gold Medals"-An Artist's Perspective, 10/14/15. In May of this year he was inducted into the Hunter College Hall of Fame.
http://mintnewsblog.com/great-war-remembrance-coin
-series-designed-by-joel-iskowitz/
https://www.moderncoinmart.com/info-vault/articles
/interview-with-joel-iskowitz-an-american-narrativ
e-artist-and-coin-designer.html
ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS:
1999-Present, Reproduced and Profiled in Art, Philatelic, Numismatic Journals and Magazines:
CoinAGE Magazine, The Numismatist, Amphora Quarterly, Smithsonian Profiles,Watercolor Magazine, American Artist Magazine, Coinworld, Coin Week, ESylum, Design Breakout,Wall Street Journel
Amphora Quarterly, The Clarion, Smithsonian Profiles, and murals have been featured in Exhibit Builder Magazine. Mint News blog, Coin Update
BOOKS:
Books:
American Gold and Platinum Eagles, Edmond C. Moy, Whitman Publishing Inc. 2014
Beyond the American Icon, Fred Reed, Whitman Publishing Inc. 2013
American Silver Eagles, John M. Mercanti, Whitman Publishing Inc. 2012
Abraham Lincoln, the Image of His Greatness, Fred Reed, Whitman Publishing Inc. 2008
ACCOLADES:
"Joel Iskowitz's illustrations are a wonderful accomplishment"
Tom Wolfe
" The artwork of Joel Iskowitz is of national historic significance"
Hon. John Glenn H. Glenn Jr.
"Joel's artworks have touched so many deeply because the truth of any given subject is revealed"
Paul Levinson
Awards
2009-Present-17 Designs selected to grace Congressional Gold Medals the highest honor bestowed by the U.S.Congress
2016 Gold Medal international Design Award for the design of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal ,Obverse.
2015 Nominated for theNational Medal of the Arts by John Glenn
2015 A Design Award , Excellence in Design, Bronze
2012 Coin of the Year (COTY) United States nominee for Most Inspirational Coin
2012 International Design Awards (IDA), Bronze
2011 International Design Awards (IDA), Bronze
2011Hunter College Hall of Fame, inducted
2011 Society of Illustrators 53rd Annual Exhibition
2011 Applied Arts Winner’s Circle Award
2004-2009 Creative Shake International, Competition Merit, Bronze and Silver awards
2008Coin of the Year (COTY) United States nominee for Most Artistic Coin
1996 Stamp of the Month Award, United Kingdom
1984-2012 Nine Art Citations, Secretary of United Stated Air Force
1989 NOAA Space Philatelic Society, Honor Certificate
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
English with a smattering of French
COMPUTER LITERACY:
Full
COURSES, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS::
I have guest lectured and presented at numerous arts schools ,universities and professional organizations including: The Fashion Institute of Technology, Syracuse University , Marywood College, The
Society of Illustrators, Fordham University,
Hunter College,
Montclair State University, the American Numismatic Association, The World's Fair of Money and the New York Numismatic Club.
SYMPOSIUMS AND ACADEMIC CONFERENCES::
United States Mint Symposiums 2005- present
Organized and was a Keynote presenter at the Shangjai Mint World Design Forum 2018 and 2019
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS:
2009, The Abraham Lincoln Association (honorary)
2006, The American Medallic Sculpture Association (AMSA)
2006, The American Numismatic Association (ANA)
2008, The American Numismatic Society (ANS)
2011, Fédération Internationale de la Médaille d'Art (FIDEM)
2001, Illustrators Partnership of America
2009, New York Numismatic Club
1985,Society of Illustrators
COLLECTIONS:
Joel Iskowitz is one of few living artists to have had his artwork displayed in the Pentagon, the Capitol and the White House. He has created artwork for three decades that has graced the covers of books, periodicals, journals, public spaces, coins and postage stamps worldwide. He is also an active United States Air Force (USAF) artist and has a number of oils in the USAF permanent collection. Mr. Iskowitz has been invited twice to document Space Shuttle missions and his artwork is on permanent display at the NASA Kennedy Space Center Museum. He is the designer of both obverse and reverse of the New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal which was presented to the Apollo11 astronauts Neil Armstrong,Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin and Mercury astronaut John Glenn, by the leadership of the Congress on November,16,2011 in the Rotunda of the Capitol.The artwork for this medal has earned the Bronze Prize in the 2012 International Design Awards.Mr.Iskowitz's work has been featured in many international journals; including profiles of his numismatic and philatelic art in CoinAGE Magazine; Watercolor Magazine American Artist Magazine, Smithsonian Profiles; and his murals have been featured in Exhibit Builder Magazine. He has been awarded both bronze and silver medals for his corporate illustrations and grand-scale public art in Portfolios.com international competitions . His design for the American Numismatic Association’s Presidential Award won the 2008 silver medal in corporate illustration in the International Creative Shake competition. His design for the District of Columbia quarter dollar reverse was displayed at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History and his design for the reverse of the “Illinois” 2009 Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Cent is displayed in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and the New York Historical Society Museum. His reverse design for the 2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Gold Coin is on permanent display in the U.S. Capitol's Emancipation Hall. Mr.Iskowitz's obverse design for the Congressional Gold Medalhonoring the Nisei Soldiers of WWII will be displayed in major museums throughout the United States,including the National World War II Museum, New Orleans • Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu • Japanese American National Museum,Los Angeles • De Young Museum, San Francisco • Oregon History Museum, Portland• Chicago History Museum, Chicago• and the Holocaust Museum, Houston.It will be on permanent display in “The Price of Freedom,” an exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. A recently completed mural which chronicles the history of aviation technology has been installed at the Pentagon at the entry to the Department of the Air Force.A full scale gicleé of this work is on display at Wright –Patterson AFB.His most recent large scale painting will be installed in Airman's Hall,the Pentagon and won international recognition in Artslant's Showcase 2011. Mr. Iskowitz has also received the National Oceanic and Philatelic Society citation for his contributions to Space Philately.His obverse design for the Louis Braille Silver Dollar flew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on it's mission to service the Hubble Telescope.He continues to present his artwork in illustrated lectures at universities and professional organizations,including the Fashion Institute of Technology,Syracuse University ,Marywood College,The Society of Illustrators, Fordham University,Hunter College,Montclair State University, the American Numismatic Association, and the New York Numismatic Club.In May of this year he was inducted into the Hunter College Hall of Fame.
JURY MEMBERSHIPS:
Society of Illustrators Annual Jury, 1998, NY, USA
Art Directors Club Jury of portfolios 2014, 2008, NY, USA
HOBBIES:
Tennis
CLIENTELE:
United States Mint, Commonwealth Mint UK, Silvercreek Mint, Golden State Mint, Intergovernmental Philatelic Corporation, Tangible Assets Inc., The Medallic Art Society of China, The American Numismatic Association, The New York Numismatic Club, The Pennsylvania Numismatic Club, The Rittenhouse Society, The Bradford Mint Exchange, Signature Art Medals.
WEB SITE:
https://www.themountainstudio.com
PORTFOLIO URL:
https://www.creativeshake.com/joeliskowitz
REGISTRATION DATE:
2013-02-23 06:56:22
COUNTRY/REGION:
United States of America
ACCOUNT TYPE:
Professional
Awards received by Joel Iskowitz
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World's Fair Bronze Medal Bronze A' Design Award Winner for Awards, Prize and Competitions Design Category in 2014 Joel Iskowitz for The New York Numismatic Club |
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