William Brice: Echoes of Antiquity and the Quiet Power of Abstraction William Brice (April 23, 1921 – March 3, 2008) was an American artist whose distinctive style—characterized by monumental canvases populated with stylized masses reminiscent of ancient ruins—established him as a pivotal figure in late modernist painting. Born to actress Fanny Brice and professional gambler Julius W. “Nicky” Arnstein, his early life was marked by instability and exposure to artistic luminaries like Clifford Odets and the Gershwin brothers, fostering an environment that nurtured his burgeoning talent. From c…