Fisher, Sandra (Sandra E.)

Biography

Sandra Maureen Fisher was an American artist born in New York City on May 6, 1947, to Ethel and Gene Fisher. Her early life was spent primarily in Florida and California. In 1968, Fisher received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Chouinard Art School at the California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles. She lived in Canada briefly with her first husband, Garry Gregson, before returning to Los Angeles in 1970. In Los Angeles, Fisher worked at Gemini G.E.L. as an assistant to printmaker Kenneth Tyler. In 1971, Sandra moved to London in order to pursue her artistic career abroad. Shortly after her arrival, she befriended fellow artist, and future husband, R.B. Kitaj. She and Kitaj were married in 1983 at Bevis Marks synagogue in London.

Fisher was known for her portrayal of a range of subjects including images drawn from opera and literature. She was also highly praised for her nudes and portraits. Like others artists in London at the time, she insisted on drawing from the human form. Sandra often liked to paint other artists, sitting for them in exchange. Several well known artists were painted by Fisher over the years, including: Maurice Cockrill, Christopher Cook, Stephen Finer, Maggi Hambling, Lino Mannocci, Susannah Phillips and R.B. Kitaj.

Throughout her artistic career, Sandra was included in several group exhibitions. In 1982, Sandra staged her first solo exhibition at Coracle Press Gallery. Three subsequent solo exhibitions were held at Victoria Miro, 1987; Odette Gilbert, 1989; and Lefevre Gallery, 1993. In 1989, Sandra was one of various artists commissioned by London Transport to create original artwork for a poster series called Art on the Underground . Due to the success of Sandra's first commission Boating on Regent's Park, Fisher was asked to do a second poster, the only artist to be given that honor. Sandra also enjoyed public success for her art works commissioned by Heineken Brewers. At the time of her unexpected death in 1994, Fisher had been working on a series of paintings commissioned for the Shakespeare Globe Theater in London.

From the guide to the Sandra Fisher papers, 1957-2007 (bulk 1970-1994), (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)