Stanley Grinstein

Stanley Grinstein (November 26, 1927 – March 2, 2014) was an American businessman, master printer, arts collector and patron, philanthropist, and social activist.

Early life and education Stanley Grinstein was born in Seattle, Washington and attended the University of Washington. His family relocated to Los Angeles in his sophomore year and Grinstein transferred to the University of Southern California. He started a scrap metal business with his father and eventually grew a business in the selling and renting of forklifts.

Los Angeles arts activities In 1952, Grinstein married his wife, Elyse, and the two began collecting art in their home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. the Grinsteins played a major role in the LA art world, from the 1960s through the early 2000s.

Gemini G.E.L. Elyse and Stanley Grinstein co-founded Gemini G.E.L. with his college friend Sidney Felsen, Felsen's wife, Rosamond Felsen, and master printer, Kenneth Tyler.

Archives of American Art In 2023, the family of Elyse and Stanley Grinstein donated their papers to the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art.

The Grinsteins' donation includes postcards, notes, letters, photographs, and other objects from visual artists, choreographers, composers, and writers, such as Tadao Ando, Carl Andre, Michael Asher, Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Wallace Berman, Daniel Buren, William S. Burroughs, James Lee Byars, Vija Celmins, Judy Chicago, Joseph Cornell, Merce Cunningham, Mark di Suvero, Frank Gehry, Allen Ginsberg, Philip Glass, Jasper Johns, Timothy Leary, Robert Rauschenberg, Richard Serra, Andy Warhol, H. C. Westermann, and Hannah Wilke. In addition to being an art collector, Elyse was an architect.