Jay Maisel, a renowned New York City-based photographer, was born in Brooklyn on January 18th, 1931. Despite being only 24 years old in 1955, he had already gained recognition with his first gallery show, showcasing his impressive black and white work.
Maisel's educational background is equally impressive, having attended Abraham Lincoln High School and later studying design and painting for three years at the prestigious Cooper Union. His higher education continued at Yale University, where he had the privilege of learning from renowned instructors such as Bauhaus master Josef Albers and philosopher/engineer Buckminster Fuller.
Throughout his successful commercial career, Maisel has accumulated an impressive portfolio, including the iconic cover photo for the best-selling Miles Davis jazz album "Kind of Blue" and a record-breaking five Sports Illustrated swimsuit covers. His work has been extensively published, with at least five publications dedicated to his photography.
In addition to his commercial success, Maisel has also shared his expertise through courses and workshops. For almost five decades, he resided in a unique 72-room, six-floor family mansion, the Germania Bank building at 180 The Bowery in lower Manhattan, where he curated an extensive collection of treasures.
