Arthur Kleinman

Arthur Mark Kleinman, 76, fine artist and painter, of Chicago’s Ravenswood Manor neighborhood, passed away September 9, 2025, of complications from Parkinson’s. Born in Columbia, SC, the Kleinman family moved several times due to his father’s position as Regional Sales manager for Kresge/K-Mart. They spent time in South Bend, IN, where Art became a Cubs fan, and then St. Louis, where he graduated from University City High School before earning his BFA University of Kansas, Lawrence in 1971. It was shortly after he left his job at Landfall Press Lithography shop in 1973 that he returned to a company softball game and first spotted the woman who would become his wife. Although she was there with her then-boyfriend, Art went for it. They married on August 10, 1975 in Detroit. The couple lived in Pilsen then Lakeview, where they raised their sons, and finally in 2012 to Ravenswood Manor. Art held a series of jobs including at Landfall Press, the United States Post Office, framing and high-end restorations at the Armand Lee shop, and teaching painting at Evanston Art Center. He also drove a taxi briefly but found the insults of passengers a bit too much. Art was wry and quick-witted. He enjoyed entertaining people with a hilarious story or a dumb joke. He was confident in his work, but never much for self-promotion. He never wanted to “play the game” required for most artists to climb the rungs. Art just wanted to make art. And so he did. Solo exhibitions included Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Koehnline Museum of Art, the Chicago Cultural Center, and St. Louis’ Atrium Gallery. Group exhibitions were around Illinois, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and in St. Louis and Santa Fe. His work resides in numerous private collections. Art’s style changed every decade or so. He had periods of shaped geometric constructions, black and white figurative/portraits and recently produced huge colorful geometric pieces. It was always ambitious, and always personal. As dedicated as he was to his art, he matched that with dedication to his family. He showed up. In 2009, Art was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He enjoyed a great productive surge after a Deep Brain Stimulation device gave him more time to create. Unfortunately, the last two years were particularly difficult. Beloved husband of 50 years to Ellen Ferar. Loving father of Matthew (Koni) Kleinman of Chicago and David (Hillary Horowitz) Ferar Kleinman of Brooklyn, NY and dear brother of Jack (Sharon) Kleinman of Watsonville CA. Preceded in death by parents Hyman Kleinman and Naomi Rothman Kleinman and also by several family cats. A celebration of life is being planned. Please check back to this website for information. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons’ Research: https://give.michaeljfox.org/ or the Dr. Goetz Endowed Research and Education Fund at Rush: https://give.rush.edu/campaign/683492/donate?c_src=A25JMQIMA. Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-318-1305 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.

Arthur Kleinman

April 28, 2025 - September 9, 2025