The papers of figurative expressionist painter Peter Dean measure 4.2 linear feet and date from circa 1941-1995, with the bulk from 1965-1993. The papers document his career as a painter in New York through biographical material; correspondence with friends, galleries, art organizations, and other artists; diaries, essay manuscripts on Dean and other writings; financial documentation such as sales, loans and consignement records, reciepts for art handling and transportation; exhibition catalogs, news clippings, and other printed material; photographs, including over twelve hundred slides of paintings; and artwork consisting of sketches.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of figurative expressionist painter Peter Dean measure 4.2 linear feet and date from circa 1941-1995, with the bulk from 1965-1993. Included are Dean's resumes, a biographic summary, a copy of his obituarry and an application to the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellowship. Correspondence is with friends, family, galleries, universities, and art institutions. Also included are illustrated holiday and greeting cards as well as letters of condolence to Dean's wife Lorraine Dean after his passing. Writings include 16 journals, 1971-1991, and manuscripts of articles on Dean. Exhibition Files document select solo and group exhibitions that Dean participated in spanning the majority of his career. Materials include correspondence, contracts, price lists and printed materials. Business records include invoices, sales receipts, and price lists. Printed matter includes exhibition catalogs of shows featuring Dean, 1970-1992, and other catalogs that he collected, 1970-1987. Photographs are of Dean, his work, and his studio, and over 1200 slides of his work. Art work consists of sketches and two painted canvases.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged as nine series.
Biographical Material, circa 1961-1993 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
Correspondence, circa 1963-1993 (0.4 Linear feet: Box 1)
Diaries and Journals, 1971-1991 (1 Linear foot Box: 1-2)
Writing, circa 1966-1993 (0.25 Linear feet: Box 2)
Exhibition Files, circa 1965-1991 (0.25 Linear feet: Box 2)
Personal Business, circa 1956-1992 (0.6 Linear feet: Box 2-3)
Printed Material, circa 1941-1995 (0.7 Linear feet :Box 3)
Photographic Material, circa 1963-1992 (1.4 Linear feet: Box 3-5)
Artwork, circa 1941-1992 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 5)
Biographical / Historical:
Peter Dean (1934-1993) was a jewish american figurative expressionist painter who lived and worked in New York City. Born in Berlin, Dean immigrated with his family to New York in 1938 in order to escape growing fascism in Germany. Dean attended Cornell University and University of Wisconsin graduating with a bachelor's degree in geology. After his studies he returned to New York City to forge a life as an artist. His work often had dark themes but was full of color and energetic fiugures often depicting either a vibrant fantasy or a specific political event such as The Vietnam War. Dean was a co-founder of the artist collective Rhino Horn, a group of figurative artists in the 1960s who emerged out of the New York School. Co-founders included Peter Passuntino and Nicholas Sperakis and active members included Joseph Kurhajec and Red Grooms.
Dean's work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the country and the world. Of note is his inclusion in Marcia Tucker's curated exhibition Paradise Lost/Paradise Regained: American Visions of the New Decade at the Venice Biennale, 1984.
Provenance:
Donated by Lorraine Dean, widow of Peter Dean, 1994 and 1995.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Peter Dean papers, circa 1941-1995. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
