LLR Archive Research

We are searching for previous owners of artwork by LLR for our archive. Artwork primarily sold in the late 1970s through 1987 in New Jersey and New York City. Ellen Sragow was his art dealer in New York City in the mid 1980s. If you own a painting by LLR or have info on some of his paintings please contact us. Thank you.

Blog 4 – In Search of an Open Door

mulberry4I had given a lot of thought about Lewis’s art. Having moved from Red Bank, NJ years ago, I simply had no contacts to approach about his artwork.  I did do some internet searching but overall I was at a loss over what to do.

Early Spring 2013, I asked my sister in law if she would provide moral support and visit some art gallery’s in Lancaster, close to my home in PA. Perhaps someone there could offer some guidance.

We visited four art gallery’s along Gallery Row.  Each gallery representative gave me some advice.  Someone suggested I take my brothers art work to an art auction held four times a year at Mulberry Art Studio.

At one gallery we had an interesting conversation with Frank Fox who read Lewis’s resume.  He asked how my brother died.  “Why is it that artists die young, he commented shaking his head.” He continued to read the resume I had written.  He looked at me and said, “any artist who gets a review in the New York Times is someone.”  If you can get his paintings back to New York that is the direction you need to take. Mr. Fox was the third person to tell me to take my brothers paintings back to New York.  How? No one could explain how you go about making that happen.

Little did I know an open door was just two blocks away.  Kay and I asked directions to Mulberry Street.  The Art Studio was closed. We looked through the window and someone opened the door and said, “Can I help you?”  I asked for information about the quarterly art auction.  When they went to get the information a tall woman came out and asked why I needed the number. I showed her my brother’s resume and the little thumbnail size painting photos were on the bottom of the paper. I shared that my brother had passed away leaving behind his life’s artwork and I was trying to figure out what to do with the paintings.

I did not know I was talking to April Koppenhaver.  She spent time listening and then talking with Kay and I.  She offered to come see my brothers paintings.  At the very least she said lets have an exhibit here to honor the memory of your brother Lewis Lanza Rudolph.  You can invite anyone you want and we will feature his paintings and honor his memory.

I left encouraged.  I also had a meeting set up to show April and her husband, Charles, Lewis’s artwork. The first door had opened.

Little did I know, April would transform my vision for honoring Lewis.  April would be the first to give me a bit more guidance other than to return the art to New York City.  April would become my first mentor in this journey of “My Brothers Legacy”.


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