Bernard Zakheim

Born in Warsaw, Poland on April 4, 1896, Bernard Baruch Zakheim began working on his art at age 13, instead of on the Jewish religious studies his family wanted. He fought in WWI and came to San Francisco in 1920 to escape political and racial persecution. He became an upholsterer and then began mural painting in the early 1930s, around the same time he met Diego Rivera. He was instrumental in obtaining funds for the Colt Tower project, and because he also was one of the few Coit Tower artists with previous experience in fresco, so he was a vital part of the work onsite. He continued to paint murals, notably at what is now UCSF School of Medicine and at the San Francisco JCC; both sites have been restored. He died in San Francisco on November 28, 1985.

Works in Coit Tower:

Library