Ivan Dies in his Sleep

In March and April of 1978, the break-ins continued and his home suffered continued vandalism. Eventually, Ivan became totally despondent and reclusive. The only journeys from his home were to work.

In the early 1980’s, paranoia had become his final cocoon. No one was welcomed into his home, with the exception of his son, Arnold.

On April 26, 1982, at the age of 64, hopelessly defeated and completely bed-ridden from ill health, Ivan Garikow died in his sleep.

Although the death certificate cited dehydration and malnutrition as the cause of death, his true demise was an unfortunate result of a lifetime of desolation, depression and despair.

Arnold believes his father died of a broken heart.

Ivan's Misfortunes: The Beginning of the End

During the 1960’s, Newman Galleries initiated a restoration program for art works and historical documents which eventually became so successful it attained national prominence and attention. These restorative techniques and procedures allowed Newman Galleries to work with art at the Washington, D.C. Art Museum, the Philadelphia Art Museum and many other public and private collectives throughout the United States.

Although the Newman Galleries successes were great, Ivan’s personal life went from one disaster to another. Family members constantly tried to convince him to sell his property in Philadelphia and move; however, he remained adamant in his resolution that divine guidance would intervene and the discovery of his true talent was soon be realized.

But alas, his misfortunes continued to occur. On September 25, 1971 another mugging took place. In 1972, his home and gallery was broken into and three of his oil paintings were stolen. Another burglary occurred in 1974 with six more paintings stolen.

Ivan finally confided to his son, Arnold, “There have been many break-ins at my home over the past years. Whoever broke in this last time knew exactly what he was doing. He stole some of my best paintings!”

Ivan the Home Owner: An American Dream

In 1954, Ivan joined the Art Talents Association of Philadelphia. Soon after, his painting, Letter, was accepted for exhibition in New York City at the Barbizon-Plaza Art Gallery, located at 106 Central Park South, from May 8 through May 20 of 1954.

With his success on the rise and much encouragement, Ivan saved his money and painted enough canvasses to open his own studio/gallery in Philadelphia at 530 West Girard Avenue on April 23, 1955. Two weeks later on May 5, 1955 an article in the “Philadelphia Midtown Crier” reported that several more of his paintings were accepted for exhibition at Barbizon-Plaza in New York.

News articles regarding his works started to appear in local papers in the Philadelphia area. In time, Ivan moved his studio/gallery to 989 North 6th Street where he continued to flourish. He was living his American dream and was positive great success awaited him. He now felt was his fame was inevitable. Unfortunately, and unknown to him, Ivan exercised poor judgment in choosing the location of his new art studio.

On February 16, 1962, as he was walking along the Philadelphia streets, Ivan was beaten and robbed. All of his money and his personal belongings was stolen – an omen of things yet to come. In spite of the mugging which adversely affected his emotional state and his deplorable living conditions, his faith remained undaunted in pursuit of his share of the American dream.

By April 5, 1962, he had saved enough money to place a down payment of five hundred dollars on his own house at 1238 North 5th Street. This a joyous occasion for him proved to be another bad mistake for Ivan. The neighborhood in which he had invested his hard-earned money was not a good neighborhood. It continued to decay. Ivan kept working for Newman Galleries, but his personal habitat was one of squalor, constant vandalism and urban deterioration.