Paul Edelstein Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1959 -

Paul Edelstein resides in Memphis, TN. He was educated at Christian Brothers University and The University of Memphis. He also studied privately under Marjorie Liebman.

Paul’s work has been seen in the movie “The Firm” and has been shown in many designer magazines such as “Elle”. His work can be found in galleries from Oxford, Miss., to Damascus, Syria. He has painted murals for the restaurant “Waltz on the Square” in Oxford, Miss., “Cafe Eclectic” on McLean Blvd in Memphis, TN, and recently a 30 foot mural at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN.

His work is highly collectable and continues to gain in popularity.

Paul Edelstein paintings have a unique look that has become very recognizable. Interestingly, it all started with the infamous plant that has become so established in the South, kudzu. As a young artist in the late 70’s Edelstein became infatuated with the rampant vines and would go out and sketch them often. As Edelstein drew, he began seeing the shapes of people and animals in the leaves’ forms. The plants seemed to morph into families, often embracing one another. As he got more into the kudzu, his paintings evolved from tone-on-tone in all green shades to become shaped people and animals in a broader palette of colors. After a while, Edelstein gave up sketching and allowed his imagination alone to dictate the form of the kudzu people who populate his art.

At first limited, Edelstein’s palette became very colorful as the years progressed. Regardless of the general topic of the painting, whether weddings, religious events family gatherings, the intensely colored shapes of the kudzu people remained consistently dominate. When art teacher Marjorie Liebman first saw one of his shows, she screamed out, “You are a colorist!”



Edelstein met Liebman in the 70’s at a show of her work. He was too shy to introduce himself, but she would play a major role in his artistic development over a period of 30 years. After a trip to Europe in 1977, the 21-year-old Edelstein returned to Memphis and went to another of Liebman’s shows. This time he did talk to her. Liebman’s art had a huge influence on Edelstein, especially her work in the 1950’s which included abstract figures—very abstract. “Mine are more defined, but I sometimes see her influence as I work on these abstract figures,” he says.



Paul Edelstein, Artist



In current times, Edelstein’s inspiration comes from the stain of the underpainting. His thin layers of dark colors, often reveal figures in the stain areas–sometimes a plant or an animal. According to Edelstein, “I never know what I’m going to paint. It’s always a surprise. A process. It evolves as I go. I will put it up and stare at it, sometimes for days or weeks, until I see what I want to come out of it.”

Paul Edelstein, Artist

Edelstein’s first local art show at a gallery was at John Simmons’ The Sycamore in Overton Square (now closed). According to Edelstein, “One of those paintings came up for resale recently and I wanted to purchase it, but the price was so high that I could not afford it. It was a kudzu painting about 5’x5’.”

Nowadays Edelstein’s work can be found collections across the country. Leading local real estate agent Judy McLellan has several pieces in her lovely home. She says, “Paul’s work has infused life into our home. Not only has it provided depth, color and content, but in the midst of many antiques, it still enables our home to be young and exciting.”

Edelstein’s art is available for purchase in Memphis at Palladio, Market Central, RW Galleries and a new location called Echoes of Time on Madison Ave. in Midtown. Nearby out-of-town galleries that carry his paintings include View Gallery (Madison, MS), Lagniappe (Greenville, MS) and Southside Gallery (Oxford, MS). Edelstein also has a Hollywood (CA) agent, through whom his work has been added to the art collection of actor Simon Baker. Mr. and Mrs. Archie Manning, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Manning, Naomi Watts and country singer Lorrie Morgan also own paintings by Edelstein.

According to the artist, “I try to keep my paintings affordable so that anyone can afford to get one. As long as one likes a painting they should just get it. Not just mine, but any artist’s painting. Try to get away from posters and furniture store paintings. You will be glad you did in the long run.”