Documentary Spotlighting Roy Lichtenstein's Cleveland Years

Press release from ideastream:

May 14, 2021

CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 12, 2020) — ideastream, Ohio’s largest public media organization, is producing, distributing and broadcasting “Isabel & Roy,” an original thirty-minute documentary spotlighting the late Pop Art master Roy Lichtenstein’s years in Northeast Ohio. Roy Lichtenstein's impact on the art world is well documented, but the story of his pre-Pop days in Cleveland and the woman who supported him as he developed his signature style, is largely unknown.

In late 2017, “Masterpiece,” a painting by Roy Lichtenstein, sold for $165 million in a private sale. It was a far cry from the early 1950s, when the young artist was struggling to find acceptance as a painter in Cleveland, where he called home for six years. With a growing family to support, Lichtenstein picked up work where he could find it, like giving art lessons, working as an engineering draftsman for Republic Steel and designing store windows for the Halle Brothers department store at Shaker Square.

Roy’s wife, Isabel, was the family’s breadwinner and a prominent interior decorator. Isabel Lichtenstein developed a clientele of upper-middle-class Clevelanders who appreciated her taste for what’s now known as mid-century modern design. She was a female entrepreneur at a time when many women were homemakers.

“Isabel & Roy” Premieres May 20 at 7:30 p.m. on WVIZ/PBS ideastream

“Isabel & Roy" debuts May 20 at 7:30 p.m. and will reair on May 21 at 12:30 a.m., May 23 at 5:30 p.m. and May 24 at 10 p.m. on WVIZ/PBS ideastream. The program features rarely seen archival photos and interviews with their clients, friends and Roy and Isabel’s son Mitchell.

The documentary will also be available on ideastream.org and the PBS Video app for free on-demand streaming beginning May 20. For more information, visit ideastream.org/lichtenstein. “Isabel & Roy” is sponsored in part by the William M. Weiss Foundation.

For a sneak peek of “Isabel & Roy,” watch ideastream’s weekly arts and culture show “Applause” on May 14 at 8:30 p.m. on WVIZ/PBS ideastream.

Encore Presentation Airs June 15 at 7:30 p.m. as Part of Special Announcement

In addition, the documentary will be featured on June 15 at 7:30 p.m. during a special television presentation on WVIZ/PBS ideastream. The airing in June will coincide with a very special announcement from ideastream. More details will be provided in the coming weeks.

This press release was produced by ideastream. The views expressed here are the author’s own.