William and Noma Copley Foundation

Non-profit foundation that funded gifted artists and composers, founded by William Copley in 1954.

Biographical/Historical Note

Copley Foundation

The William and Noma Copley Foundation was incorporated in Chicago as a non-profit foundation in 1954. Its aim was to aid and encourage creative individuals in the fields of painting, sculpture and music composition. Grants were awarded by a board of directors from nominations made by the advisers. The Foundation's advisers were Jean Arp, Alfred Barr, Jr., Roberto Matta Echaurren, Max Ernst, Julien Levy, William Lieberman, Man Ray, Sir Roland Penrose and Sir Herbert Read. The officers and directors were William Copley, Noma Copley, Marcel Duchamp, Barnet Hodes (also called Barney), Eleanor Hodes and Darius Milhaud. Music and art award responsibilities were divided between husband and wife. Noma Copley collaborated with Milhaud, whose music recommendations were nearly all accepted. William Copley generally made the final decisions on the visual art grants, based on the recommendations of his artist friends. In 1966 William Copley became dissatisfied with his Foundation association, preferring to be known as a painter rather than a philanthropist.

The Foundation published a series of monographs from 1960-1966 to highlight those artists who received awards. The British Pop artist Richard Hamilton was chosen as editor, not only for his well-known talents in layout and design, but also, as one of Duchamp's protegées, for the respect given him by the international art community. A total of 10 monographs were published on Hans Bellmer, Richard Lindner, Bernard Pfriem, René Magritte, Thomas Albert Sills, Eduardo Paolozzi, James Metcalf, Serge Charchoune, Jacques Hérold and Diter Rot [i.e., Dieter Roth]. The later books, especially Dieter Rot's, explored the medium of the artist book, which Hamilton found very exciting. He suggested that the Foundation continue in this direction and consider publishing books by non-awardees (such as Emmett Williams). However, William Copley believed the series was straying from the Foundation's initial intentions, which could jeopardize the Foundation's non-profit tax status.

Copley Collection

The Copleys assembled an important private collection of Surrealist art. Hans Bellmer, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst, René Magritte and Man Ray were represented in depth. Important works in the collection were acquired abroad and imported into France. Approximately half of the collection was purchased in France. The collection included Magritte's “Ceci n'est pas une pipe” and “Chambre d'Ecoute,” Ernst's “Le Surréalisme et la Peinture,” Man Ray's “A l'Heure de l'Observatoire: les Amoureux” and Richard Hamilton's “$he”. From 1964 to 1966, Marcia Tucker worked as collection curator, overseeing exhibition loans and the care and maintenance of the collection. Most of the Copley collection was sold at auction (Sotheby's Nov. 5, 1979). Some of the works were placed on long-term loan or donated to museums.

William Copley