Phyllis Yampolsky
Phyllis Yampolsky | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 23, 1932 |
| Died | June 10, 2025 (aged 92) |
| Occupation(s) | Artist, activist |
| Spouse(s) | Peter Forakis (divorced), Bernard Roth |
| Children | 2 |
Phyllis Yampolsky (August 23, 1932 – June 10, 2025) was an American artist associated with the art scene of the Judson Memorial Church during the 1960s and an advocate for the pool restoration at McCarren Park in Brooklyn, New York.
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, Yampolsky was the daughter of Russian-Jewish immigrants.[1] She studied at the Philadelphia College of Art and later with Hans Hofmann.[2] Yampolsky is most known for her works that deal with politics and gender. Her piece, The Hall of Issues, was created at the Judson Church in 1961, where anyone could contribute any form of art to the walls.[3] For Bill Clinton's presidential inaugurals of 1993 and 1997, she reprised Hall of Issues with a 100-foot-long "Town Hall Wall" in the nation's capital. As of 2025, the installation was in the Smithsonian's National Archives.[2] Yampolsky was also associated with Thomas Hoving in producing happening events in NYC parks during the mid-1960s.[4] as well as advocating for the restoration of the McCarren Park pool, which reopened in 2007.[5]
Yampolsky was once married to Peter Forakis, with whom she had two children, Jozeph Forakis (designer) and Gia Forakis (theater artist).[6] She later married and was survived by Bernard Roth.[2]
References
- ^ "Mykonos Biennale TREASURE HUNT artist - Phyllis Yampolsky".
- ^ a b c "PHYLLIS YAMPOLSKY Obituary (2025) - New York, NY - New York Times". Legacy.com.
- ^ "A HALL OF ISSUES OPENS IN 'VILLAGE'; Variety of Opinions Shown in Art at Judson Church (Published 1961)". The New York Times. 4 December 1961.
- ^ "Happenings: Art, Play, and Urban Revitalization in 1960s Central Park". 21 February 2019.
- ^ "NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: GREENPOINT; A Long-Dry Pool, with a Famous Past, Faces the Future (Published 2000)". The New York Times. 17 December 2000.
- ^ "Peter Forakis, a Sculptor of Geometric Forms, is Dead at 82 (Published 2009)". The New York Times. 17 December 2009.