"In every sense of the words, Stephen Fabian is a self-made artist, fashioning himself into a specialist of most pleasing quality with wide appeal to the appreciative of the aesthetic in the art of illustration."
- Writer and historian Sam Moskowitz
For many years, one wouldn't have to look very hard to find an illustration by Stephen Fabian in any fantasy, horror or science fiction book or magazine. During his career, Fabian created an immense body of work that included paintings, prints, portfolios and other media. A self-taught artist, he didn't begin his career until he was age 44. His first semi-professional sale was to Gerald Page's WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY. His first professional sale was a cover for the November 1974 issue of the science-fiction digest GALAXY.
I found this 5-page illustrated prose poem tucked away in FANTASTIC SCIENCE FICTION July 1979. It was co-created by Chip Fabian (his brother? son?) and apparently there was a series of these. To my knowledge, I haven't seen it published anywhere else and it is not listed in The Speculative Fiction Database.
After Fabian's passing on May 6, 2025 at the age of 95, an estate sale was held at his home on 4 Sussex Road, Wayne NJ. Here is an excerpt from the lot listings:
I’d like to invite you to the home of famous, published sci-fi artist and illustrator : Stephen Fabian. Amongst the last few of his original paintings being for sale Stephen has plenty of drawing/painting tools that a professional artist would have. At Mr. Fabian's request we will be auctioning off about 3 original signed paintings, original signed transfer tracings, Stephen's signed desk, signed chair, and lamp, limited signed prints, signed book covers of his published work, and counting... But that’s just the BEGINNING!
So much to choose from you are bound to find something that you love. This is not the type of sale where there are thousand dollar pieces staring you in the face. It’s the type of sale where countless hours was spent sorting through the rubble to uncover some beautiful gems.
- 600-900 books and comics in excellent condition
- Lots of vintage /antique bric-a-Brac
- Unique vintage furniture pieces
- Tools
- Records
- Books!
- Vintage electronics
- Some cameras and stereo equipment Electronics
- Pool table
- Vintage ride on lawnmower (yellow!)
- TONS of sewing and knitting supplies and equipment
- Glass ware
- Crystal ware
- DVDs
- VHS
- Tape
Stephen’s wife was a professional seamstress so there is thousands of dollars worth of: yarns, threads, how to books, sewing machine, vintage loom patterns Buttons Material and more.
Stephen Fabian's final five paintings:
Ted White (who we lost on Sunday) stepped down as editor of Fantastic in November 1978 and reportedly returned all material in his files, although the line-up for January 1979 was already locked down (the magazine was appearing quarterly at that point). This piece would therefore have been one of the first acquisitions by Ted's replacement, Elinor Mavor.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this insight into one of my absolute all-time favorite artists. I was a total fan of his work, picking up any digest with his cover art and his Starfawn is a book deserving of a wider audience.
ReplyDeleteSteve: I heard the news about Mr. White. Fantastic was . . . well, fantastic. Was very impressed with his longish string of sword and sorcery stories.
ReplyDeleteRip: I think his earliest work showed up in Gerald Page's Witchcraft & Sorcery (full-size mag), formerly Coven 13. Thanks for reminding me of Starfawn. I've got it somewhere . . .
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