Raphael Boguslav (1929-2010)
Born in 1929 on Long Island of Russian parents, Raphael Boguslav grew up in New York City. He attended the Art Students League from the age of nine and later The High School of Music & Art and Graduated Cooper Union In 1951. His classmate, Milton Glaser got him his first job in design and later joined the small studio as art director; an apprenticeship he credits as profoundly influential. From 1954 to 1961 he was an occasional folk singer made two solo albums, and accompanied Harry Belafonte.
From around 1956 he worked for Lippincott & Margulies designing logos and packaging for companies like New York Life, PPG , and Chrysler. He started a studio with his then wife and partner but by around 1970 his interest turned to painting. In 1972 with the encouragement of his friend, John Benson, he moved to Newport, RI and eventually resumed his career in lettering, calligraphy and graphic design.
Avia, originally drawn for a custom client, was a prize winner in an international typeface competition. He taught at Cooper Union and RSD as well as many workshops nationally. He worked mostly on the Mac, and pursued a lifelong interest in classical piano, and built radio controlled model airplanes.
He died in 2010 at Rhode Island Hospital, one week before his 81st birthday, from complications from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.
[DJD, September 2019]