Billy Al Bengston papers

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Billy Al Bengston papers

circa 1940s-1989

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9100ab903-2685-4182-8e65-3886c54e0d7f

The papers of Billy Al Bengston measure 10.4 linear feet and date from circa 1940s to 1989, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1960 to 1988. The collection documents the life and work of the southern California artist through biographical materials, correspondence, personal business records, gallery and museum files, teaching files, project and commission files, scattered artwork, printed materials, and photographs. Found within the biographical materials series are three feet of calendars which extensively document Bengston's personal and professional activities for fourteen years, and include ephemera related to these activities. This series also includes health records, wills, and passports. Correspondence is with galleries, museums, universities, businesses, friends, and colleagues, and primarily concerns exhibitions, sales, consignments, commissions, and Bengston's personal finances. Bengston's relationship with the James Corcoran Gallery, Janie C. Lee Gallery, John Berggruen Gallery, Martha Jackson Gallery, and Texas Gallery are well-documented here, as well as in the Museum and Gallery Files series. Also found is a limited amount of personal correspondence with collectors, researchers, and friends. A few letters from other artists, including Peter Plagens and a letter from Richard Diebenkorn are interfiled here. Bengston's professional relationships with galleries, museums, and universities are well-documented in the gallery and museum files, including the galleries mentioned above, Ferus Gallery, and others. Lists of consignments and prices, invoices, records of sales, loan agreement forms, shipping receipts, exhibition checklists, and exhibition floor plans provide information about sales, exhibitions, and loans. A few files provide further information about Bengston teaching activities. His personal business records include art sales records, price lists, lists of purchases, records of investment, and personal finance records. Project files include correspondence, notes, and printed materials related to Bengston's commissions for artwork and personal projects, including a book he worked on with Ed Ruscha, <emph render="italic">Business Cards</emph>. Writings by Bengston include responses to exhibitions of West Coast art and his thoughts on his career, art, the artistic community, motorcycles, as well as a recollection of John Altoon. Also found are questionnaires sent out by Bengston for an art survey, with responses from Peter Alexander, Carl Andre, John Chamberlain, Dan Flavin, Joe Goode, Robert Graham, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Motherwell, Ed Ruscha, and others. Writings by others consist primarily of exhibition catalog essays, manuscripts of interviews with Bengston, and other writings about Bengston. Also found is an essay by Walter Hopps. Photographs of Bengston include a family picture from the 1940s, Bengston at work on projects in Los Angeles and Syracuse, New York, and Bengston at social events. Other photographs consist of pictures of friends and artists, Bengston's artwork, documentary evidence of damaged artwork, and of commission sites. Printed materials from the 1960s - 1980s include clippings, full articles, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and posters. They document exhibitions, art in southern California, and society and art events. The collection houses limited amounts of artwork including sketches, cut-outs, doodles and drawings.

Archives of American Art

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6630368

Archives of American Art

Related Entities

There are 18 Entities related to this resource.

Plagens, Peter

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ff4w3z (person)

Lichtenstein, Roy, 1923-1997

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pk0fqp (person)

d. Sept. 29, 1997. From the description of Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. (Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)). WorldCat record id: 83084427 Painter and sculptor, New York, N.Y. Studied at Ohio State University and at the Art Students League and under Reginald Marsh. Through his cartoon-like style and commentary, Lichtenstein came to represent a faction of his generation in his art and was one of the great proponents of the Pop Art movement of the 1960's. ...

Altoon, John, 1925-1969

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63t9htd (person)

B. 1925 d. 1969. From the description of John Altoon artist file. (Whitney Museum of American Art). WorldCat record id: 228432322 Painter; Los Angeles, Calif.; b. 1925, d. 1969 Altoon (born Altoonian), was a major figure in the Los Angeles art scene from the 1950s until his death from a heart attack in 1969. He began painting in the abstract-expressionist style, but by the mid-1960s his works turned to the figure, characterized by skillful draftsmans...

Ferus gallery (Los Angeles, Calif.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63z21h9 (corporateBody)

Alexander, Peter, 1939-....

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6k65hkw (person)

Peter Alexander (1939- ) is a painter, printmaker, and sculptor in Santa Monica, Calif. From the description of Oral history interview with Peter Alexander, 2009 Sept. 24-2010 Jan. 19. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 613316819 Peter Alexander, 1939-, sculptor of Los Angeles, Calif. From the description of Oral history interview with Peter Alexander, 1995 Dec. 13-1996 May 8 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80698111 ...

Goode, Joe, 1937-....

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60k2fxx (person)

Joe Goode, 1937, was a Sculptor and painter of Mar Vista, Calif. Joe Goode was born in Oklahoma City, later coming to California, where he briefly attended Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles. From the description of Oral history interview with Joe Goode, 1999 Jan. 5-2001 Apr. 12 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646401482 Sculptor, painter; Mar Vista, Calif.; b. March 23, 1937. Joe Goode was born in Oklahoma City, later coming to California, where he brie...

André, Carl 1935-...

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6st7z5q (person)

Sculptor (New York, N.Y.). From the description of Carl Andre interviews, 1972 Sept. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220178198 Sculptor; New York, N.Y. From the description of Carl Andre interview, 1972. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220199022 Carl Andre (1935-) is a sculptor from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Carl Andre, 1972 Sept. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495595034 ...

John Berggruen Gallery San Francisco, Calif

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xh64zv (corporateBody)

Bengston, Billy Al

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6h132v0 (person)

B. 1934. From the description of Billy Al Bengston artist file. (Whitney Museum of American Art). WorldCat record id: 228432871 Billy Al Bengston, 1934-, painter of Venice, Calif. From the description of Oral history interview with Billy Al Bengston, 2002 Aug. 7-Oct. 2 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81804702 Billy Al Bengston, b. 1934, Painter of Venice, Calif. From the description of Oral history interview with Billy Al Be...

Martha Jackson Gallery

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mp9wh6 (corporateBody)

Martha Jackson opened her Gallery in New York City at 22 E. 66th St., moving three years later to 32 E. 69th St. The gallery specialized in modern American and European painting and sculpture, particularly Abstract Expressionists. Her son, David Anderson, worked with Jackson and took over the gallery after her death in 1969. He now operates the David Anderson Gallery, 521 W. 57th St. From the description of Martha Jackson Gallery records, 1954-1964. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 830...

Diebenkorn, Richard, 1922-1993

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tt4rsg (person)

b. Apr. 24, 1904; d. Mar. 19, 1997. From the description of Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. (Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)). WorldCat record id: 86161936 Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993) was a painter from Calif. From the description of Oral history interview with Richard Diebenkorn, 1977 May 24 - June 2 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 710019429 Painter; Calif. d. 1993. From the description of Oral history inte...

Ruscha, Edward

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dn45vw (person)

Painter (Los Angeles, Calif.). From the description of Edward Ruscha interviews, 1980 Oct. 29 - 1981 Oct. 2. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220181902 Edward Ruscha (1937- ) is a painter from Los Angeles, Calif. From the description of Oral history interview with Edward Ruscha, 1980 Oct. 29-1981 Oct. 2. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 779476975 Edward Ruscha, Painter of Los Angeles, Calif. From the description of Oral history interview with Edw...

James Corcoran Gallery

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f51z9k (corporateBody)

Plagens, Peter

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6166pn8 (person)

Flavin, Dan, 1933-1996

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gn8xbd (person)

Dan Flavin (April 1, 1933 – November 29, 1996) was an American minimalist artist famous for creating sculptural objects and installations from commercially available fluorescent light fixtures. From Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Flavin) ...

Motherwell, Robert

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61j9c2h (person)

Abstract expressionist painter. Close friend of Baziotes. From the description of Robert Motherwell postcard to William Baziotes, 1944. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122557368 Robert Motherwell, 1915-1991, painter of New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Robert Motherwell, 1981 Feb. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646401238 Painter; New York, N.Y.; b. 1915; d. 1991. From the description of Robert Motherwell in...

Chamberlain, John, 1927-2011

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sx6x0q (person)

Epithet: of the Ordnance Drawing Room British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001240.0x0003ad Sculptor; Sarasota, Florida. From the description of John Chamberlain interview, 1991 Jan. 29-30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220201687 John Chamberlain, 1927-, sculptor of Sarasota, Florida. From the description of Oral history interview with John Chamberlain, 1991 Jan. 29-30. (Unknown). Wo...

Lichtenstein, Roy, 1923-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6b01xjn (person)