A Life in Muralism and Design
Harold Lehman was an American artist whose career spanned from the social activism of the mural movement to the grand scale of world expositions. Born in New York City, he moved to California as a teenager, attending Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. It was there that he formed close friendships with artists such as Jackson Pollock, Philip Guston, and Reuben Kadish. After winning a scholarship to the Otis Art Institute, Lehman became an apprentice to the Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. As part of the Block of Painters, he worked on fresco murals addressing the mistreatment of African Americans, though these panels were destroyed by the Los Angeles Red Squad.
Returning to New York, Lehman became involved with the Siqueiros Workshop and later worked for the Federal Art Project. His notable contributions include:
During the war years, Lehman created iconic posters for the US Treasury Department, including The Paratrooper, to support War Bond Drives.
From Scenic Design to Legacy
In the latter half of his career, Lehman transitioned into the world of scenic design. He worked as a Scenic Designer and Scenic Artist for various television, movie, and commercial productions. His expertise in large-scale environments led him to serve as the chief designer for the Coca-Cola Pavilion at the New York World's Fair and the World of Man at Expo '67 in Montreal, Canada.
His artistic legacy is preserved in several prestigious institutions. His work is held in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Gallery of Art. Additionally, his photographic collection is housed in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Lehman passed away in Leonia, New Jersey.
