Meryl Meisler was born in 1951 in the Bronx and raised on Long Island. Inspired by Diane Arbus and her father Jack’s photos, she enrolled in photography classes at The University of Wisconsin–Madison. Moving to NYC in 1975, she studied with Lisette Model, continuing to document suburban and street life with her quirky eye. While frequenting NYC's discos Meryl captured hedonistic havens, celebrities, and revelers of the night, never revealing the large bodies of work until retiring from her 31-year career as an NYC public school art teacher. She's authored three internationally proclaimed monographs: Tale of Two Cities Disco Era Bushwick, Purgatory & Paradise SASSY '70s Suburbia & The City and New York PARADISE LOST Bushwick Era Disco.

 

Meryl's exhibits include Brooklyn Museum, Center for Photography at Woodstock, Dia Art Foundation, New Museum, Whitney Museum, Zillman Art Museum, Grand Central Terminal, the NYC subway system, and galleries in NYC, Berlin, and Paris. She's received two NYFA fellowships, the CPW Affinity Award, and residences at Yaddo and Lightwork. Meryl lives and works in NYC and Woodstock, NY, continuing her photographic memoir begun in 1973 – a uniquely American story, sweet and sassy with a pinch of mystery. CLAMP represents her work.

The Meisler, Forkash & Cash Clan Welcoming a Sweet New Year, North Massapequa, NY, Rosh Hashanah
1974
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Self-Portrait, My Childhood Bedroom Mirror, North Massapequa, NY
1976
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Mom Reading A Scholarly View Of the Jewish Mother, North Massapequa, NY,Thanksgiving
1978
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Self-Portrait, A Falling Star North Massapequa, NY
1975
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Mom Getting her hair Teased at Besame Beauty Salon, North Massapequa, NY
1979
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Butterfly Bedroom Telephone, East Meadow, NY
1975
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Handshake, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
1984
Archival Pigment Print
17" x 22" sheet

Edition of 10 (+2 AP)

Muscle Boy and The Little Rascals of Palmetto Street Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
1982
Archival Pigment Print
17" x 22" sheet

Edition of 10 (+2 AP)

Boy In A Tire, Palmetto St., Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
1984
Archival Pigment Print
17" x 22" sheet

Edition of 10 (+2 AP)

Magnolia Tree, Gates Ave, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
1983
Archival Pigment Print
17" x 22" sheet

Edition of 10 (+2 AP)

Family Picnic, Palmetto St., Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
1982
Archival Pigment Print
17" x 22" sheet

Edition of 10 (+2 AP)

Boyz To Men, Palmetto St., Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
1982
Archival Pigment Print
17" x 22" sheet

Edition of 10 (+2 AP)

Grace Jones in Hallway with Judi Jupiter and Others on Opening Night, Farfalle, NY,
1978
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Amanda Lepore on her Birthday, Bartschland, Working Girls Holiday Special, Club Room at Soho Grand
2022
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Dallas Performs Near Mirrors, Hurrah Wild Wild West Party, NY
1978
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

My darling…are you ready yet? (Kris Rox and Lola Von Rox), House of House of Yes, Bushwick, Brooklyn
2022
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Miss Malice, birthday femme, Switch n’ Play, Littlefield, Brooklyn, NY
2023
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Andy Warhol and His Friend (with JudiJupiter and his Friend) Studio 54, NY, NY July 1979
1979
Gelatin Silver Print
16" x 20" sheet or 11" x 14" sheet

Edition of 5 (+2 AP)

Follow these links to see more of Meryl's's work:

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