Early Life and Artistic Beginnings James Lewis Dine, born June 16, 1935, in Cincinnati, Ohio, emerged from a surprisingly conventional background to become one of the most influential figures in post-war American art. His early life was marked by a quiet domesticity—he grew up in a modest home with his parents and younger sister, largely shielded from the turbulent artistic currents swirling around him. However, this seemingly ordinary upbringing proved to be fertile ground for an extraordinary creative spirit. A pivotal moment arrived during his teenage years when he encountered a collectio…