Steve Marcus: Top Dog of Kosher Pop Art

At the Eldridge Street Museum, dive into the cartoon world of kosher folk art through a series of new works inspired by one of the many great Jewish contributions to American culture: the hot dog! Local New York City and Lower East Side artist Steve Marcus explores Jewish life and immigrant culture through works on paper and a wooden sculpture. He also displays a curated selection from his personal collection of New York City hot dog memorabilia, such as a limited edition Hot Wheels Oscar Mayer Wienermobile toy, and a Hebrew National Kosher Classics album with Jewish music from the 1940s-1970s.

“When I do the work, I like to be able to represent my roots and culture. At the same time, I try to make it accessible and funny. A lot of times Jewish art is so heavy, and it should be fun.” noted the artist.

Marcus has received honors and awards from the American Society of Illustrators and has several works in the permanent collection at institutions such as the Oakland Museum of California, the Jewish Museum of Florida and the Harvard Library. He has collaborated with people including Allen Ginsberg, Ken Kesey and Timothy Leary. Additionally, his illustrations have been seen in High Times Magazine, The New York Times, MTV, Nickelodeon, and more. 

Catch the exhibition before it closes on November 6, 2022. The Eldridge Street Museum is located at 12 Eldridge Street, NYC. Call 212-219-0888 for more information.