Chronology
1928
Born January 11 to Irving and Frieda (née Gelband) Feitelson. Named Marcia Helene Feitelson
1932
Sister, Barbara Feitelson, born
Frieda and family live 1933–1985 in Inwood, Manhattan, NY, near the Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art, which Marcus visits regularly after its opening in 1938.
1938
Receives a camera from her father
1942
Enrolls in fashion illustration class at Traphagen School of Fashion, NY
1943
Enters Washington Square College, New York University
1947
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Washington Square College, New York University
Marries Harry Gutman
Attends Cooper Union (1947–1948)
1949
Marriage is annulled
1950–52
Attends Cooper Union, studies with John Ferren, Peter Busa, and Robert Gwathmey
1951
Moves to an apartment at 172 Third Avenue, NY 1951-56
1952
First inclusion in group exhibition, Roko Gallery, Greenwich Village, NY
First trip to Provincetown, staying from late July through November. Sparks a lasting connection with its vibrant environment and artistic community, drawing her back repeatedly until the 1980s.
Frequents Cedar Bar and attends talks at The Club, NY.
Circle includes Earle and Lily Pilgrim, Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Marisol, Pat Passlof,
Emilio Cruz, Ibram Lassaw, LeRoi Jones (later Amiri Baraka), Jill Johnston, and others
1953
Assists at photo shoot of Marcel Duchamp where Portrait No.29 is created.
First extended stay in C-Scape, documents in photos a creative dialogue with Allan Kaprow, involving several assemblages, some at site specific locations, Provincetown, MA.
Adopts Marcia Marcus as legal name
Inspired by exhibition; 50 Years of Mondrian at Sidney Janis Gallery, NY
1954
Attends Art Students League, “Life and Portrait Drawing, Painting and Composition” with
Edwin Dickinson, February and May
Studies with Jack Tworkov at the suggestion of Edwin Dickinson
1956
Fire in apartment on Third Avenue. Moves to a commercial loft space, top floor at 703 East 6th Street, NY, 1956–1975. Neighbor is artist Lee Bontecou. Paints two portraits of Willem de Kooning, who offers technical advice. Father dies
1957
Becomes charter member of March Gallery, Tenth Street, NY where she has her first solo exhibition.
1958
Participation in Provincetown Art Association Annual exhibitions begins
1959
Artwork sales become sustainable source of income
Marriage to Terence Barrell, reception at studio of Myron Stout, Provincetown, MA
Exhibits in inaugural group exhibition at Delancey Street Museum, NY
1960
February; Stages Happening A Garden followed by solo exhibition of self-portraits at Delancey Street Museum, NY
April; Birth of daughter, Jane Angel Barrell
Inclusion of several paintings at Young America 1960: Thirty American Painters
Under Thirty-Six, Whitney Museum of American Art, NY
1961
Represented by the Cober Gallery, NY
April; Travels to Italy visiting Ravenna, Padua, Venice, Verona, Siena, Antibes, and London. Settles in Florence, near Mimi Gross, Red Grooms, Jackie Ferrara and Bob Beauchamp. July; second daughter, Catherine Anne Barrell born. Switches representation to Alan Gallery
1962–63
Fulbright Fellowship, Paris, France. Arrives to Europe early to visit Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Crete, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples, Elba and Lecco, Stays with, and shares the studio of, Dody Müller in Paris before settling in Bures-sur-Yvette with her family for the duration of the Fulbright.
1964
Defends her 1963 travel expenditures to the IRS. Completes two large group portraits.
1965
Lucas Samaras visits C-Scape dune shack in Provincetown
1966
Visiting artist solo show at RISD
Features in Raymond Saroff’s film Private Parts: Artists and Others (1966–68)
1967
Dorothy Gees Seckler interview, summer, Provincetown, MA
1968
Summer in Stalaire, Fire Island, NY
1969
MacDowell Fellowship, spring
1971–72
Purchases farmhouse on four acres in Manorkill, NY
Separates from Terence Barrell. Visiting Professor at Louisiana State University at Baton
Rouge, where she begins a relationship with graduate student Richard Oliver
1972
Begins representation by ACA Gallery
1973–74
Professor, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
1974
Invited to participate in feminist art exhibitions and projects
1975
Paul Cummings interview for Archives of American Art, NY. Moves to 80 North Moore Street, NY, 1975 to 2016.
1977
Spends summer in East Hampton and Provincetown, MA
Jane and Kate attend City-As-School high school, befriend Jean Michel Basquiat and Al Diaz,
who visit Marcus’s studio frequently
1977–1994
Spends summers in East Hampton, NY
Professor and Visiting Artist at several colleges and universities.
1978–1992
Summer Residency at the University of Notre Dame.
1979
Solo exhibition at Terry Dintenfass Gallery, Marcus’s last solo presentation in New York until
2017
1979–80
Interview with Anne Harris Sutherland
1982
Travels to Europe, Germany, Paris and visits Joan Mitchell in Vètheuil.
1984
Marcia Marcus: Twenty Five Year Retrospective, Canton Art Institute, Ohio
Travels to Barbados with Lily Pilgrim
1985
Mother dies
1987–1988
Drives across United States visiting various friends and collectors. Inspired by southwestern states, especially New Mexico.
1989
Travels to New Delhi, India, for daughter Jane’s wedding. Side trips to Agra and Jaipur.
1990
Teaches at Chautauqua, NY
1991–1992
National Endowment for the Arts Grant, Painting
1994
Visits an ailing de Kooning for the last time
1998
Trip to Victoria, British Columbia
2001 - 2010
Witnesses and photographs September 11 attacks on World Trade Center in New York. Depression follows. Ceases painting large works. Makes watercolor paintings of landscapes, small drawings, and computer-generated drawings
2007–2010
Inventory of work, legacy planning
2011–2016
Failing health needs part-time caretaker.
2016–2025 in nursing care, collaborates with family on documentary film and legacy plan
2017
Group and solo exhibitions draw new attention
2019
Attends Double Portrait: Mimi Gross and Marcia Marcus at Shirley Fiterman Art Center, NY
2025
Dies, March 27
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