Barbara Reise was born in Chicago in 1940. She attended Wellesley College from 1958-62 majoring in Art and Art History, where she was nominated 'Wellesley College Scholar' for a record four years running. Whilst at Wellesley, Reise studied painting and sculpture at the School of the Chicago Art Institute for one term in 1961. From 1962-66, she enrolled in the Art History & Archaeology department at Columbia University and was awarded an MA in 1965 with her thesis on 'Primitivism in Writings of Barnett Newman and Ideology of Abstract Expressionism'. In 1966, Reise moved to London, where she enrolled as a non-degree research student, at the Courtauld Institute of Art, looking at Turner's concept of Venice. From 1963-68, she was awarded four competitive fellowships for post-graduate study in Art History. In 1968, Reise joined the teaching staff, as a Senior Lecturer in Art History, at Coventry College of Art & Design. She was hired to design programmes relevant to students and other departments' programmes. She also taught courses in 'European Art & Design, 1750-1850', 'Dada & Surrealism', 'Art from the Present back to 1940' and designed a special 'Project Course in Contemporary Art'. In addition to teaching at Coventry, Reise also lectured at the Chelsea School of Art, 1970-71; Stourbridge College of Art & Design, 1971-72 and Goldsmith's College, 1973. From 1969-73, Reise became a contributing editor to 'Studio International' and edited special issues on: 'Minimalism', (April 1969); 'Barnett Newman', (February 1970); sections on UK & USA museums' problems in exhibiting contemporary artists' works, (Summer 1971); and shared the editing on 'Holland', (May 1973) and 'Belgium' (November 1974). Reise was twice awarded an 'Art Critic's Grant' by the USA National Endowment for the Arts (1972, 1975) and was the UK Consultant for the 1973 and 1975 Paris 'Biennale des Jeunes Artistes'. From 1974, Reise devoted most of her energies to establishing a non-profit charity, 'Artstra Information Ltd' to further direct information of the arts and artists. She also planned a magazine initially titled, 'Cover' that would co-operate with other magazines and by 1976 had secured office space and applied for funds. Barbara Reise died on 25th January 1978.
From the guide to the Papers of Barbara Reise, 1940s-1978, (Tate Gallery Archive GB 70)
