Rolf Nelson Gallery Records, 1953-1973

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
Rolf Nelson Gallery records
Dates:
1953-1973
Creators:
Rolf Nelson Gallery
Abstract:
The Rolf Nelson Gallery made a significant contribution to the vibrant Southern California art scene of the 1960s by exhibiting emerging as well as established artists. The archive contains correspondence, photographs, and printed ephemera related to the operation of the gallery and Nelson's subsequent work as a private dealer. The collection is rich in materials from Lowell Nesbitt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago, Robert Indiana, Harry Partch and George Herms.
Extent:
7.7 linear feet (11 boxes)
Language:
Collection material is in English.
Preferred citation:

Rolf Nelson Gallery records, 1953-1973, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 2010.M.38.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2010m38

Background

Scope and content:

The Rolf Nelson Gallery records contain correspondence, photographs, and printed ephemera related to the operation of the gallery and Nelson's subsequent work as a private dealer. The collection is rich in materials from Lowell Nesbitt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago, Robert Indiana, Harry Partch and George Herms. There is original artwork by Judi, Jess, George Herms and Michael Cady. Letters sent and received during Nelson's tenure at the Martha Jackson Gallery and his own gallery make up the bulk of the collection. While most of the collection deals directly with artists and clients, there are also documents related to Nelson's involvement with the Save the Museum Committee and the Artist Protest Committee.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the gallery's original order. Files are organized alphabetically by artist, client, institution or topic, with some files of assorted items grouped under the letter of the alphabet.

Biographical / historical:

The Rolf Nelson Gallery made a significant contribution to the vibrant Southern California art scene of the 1960s by exhibiting emerging as well as established artists. Born in Brooklyn in 1935 to Norwegian immigrant parents, Rolf Nelson began his career at the Martha Jackson Gallery in New York in the early 1960s. After moving to Los Angeles in 1962 Nelson worked at the Southern California branch of the San Francisco-based Dilexi Gallery. By 1963 he had opened his own gallery in Los Angeles on La Cienega Boulevard. The gallery was subsequently moved to two other locations on La Cienega Boulevard, gradually expanding with each move. The Rolf Nelson Gallery played an integral role in disseminating art of the pop movement in the 1960s and promoting emerging artists such as Llyn Foulkes, George Herms and Jess, along with more established artists including Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago and Alfred Jensen. In 1966 Nelson closed his gallery and worked as a private dealer. He returned to New York by 1972 and retired soon thereafter.

Acquisition information:
Acquired in 2010.
Processing information:

In 2010 Laura Schroffel processed the collection and wrote the finding aid under the supervision of Andra Darlington.

Physical location:
Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record for this collection. Click here for the access policy.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Laura Schroffel
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2015-08-06T14:53-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Terms of access:

Contact Library Rights and Reproductions.

Preferred citation:

Rolf Nelson Gallery records, 1953-1973, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 2010.M.38.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2010m38

Location of this collection:
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1688, US
Contact:
(310) 440-7390
Website