The papers of Ian Hornak measure 2.7 linear feet and date from 1951-2002 and document the life and work of Ian Hornak through biographical materials, correspondence, exhibition and gallery files, printed materials, photographs, and artwork.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Ian Hornak measure 2.7 linear feet and date from circa 1965-1999. Correspondence is with friends, family, and associates including Lowell Nesbitt, Hanna Tillich, Gertrude Kasle, relatives, and the Weinstein family. There are also files pertaining to various galleries including the Tibor de Nagy Gallery, the Fischbach Gallery, and the Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery. Photographs are of Hornak and Hornak's friends and family, including Hanna Tillich and Virgil Thompson. Also included are slides of Hornak's works of art and photo studies for his artwork including studies for a pencil portrait of the Gertrude Kasle family. Artwork includes drawings and sketchbooks. Printed material consists of newspaper and magazine clippings featuring Hornak, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and various correspondence with galleries.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 6 series:
Series 1: Biographical Materials, circa 1951-1998 0.2 Linear feet (Box 1)
Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1968-2000 0.1 Linear feet (Box 1)
Series 3: Exhibition and Gallery Files, circa 1971-2002 0.3 Linear feet (Box 1)
Series 4: Printed Materials, circa 1970-1997 0.8 Linear feet (Boxes 1-2)
Series 5: Artwork, circa 1960-1989 0.3 Linear feet (Box 4)
Series 6: Photographic Materials, circa 1960-2002 1 Linear foot (Box 2-3)
Biographical / Historical:
Ian Hornak (1944-2002) was an American draughtsman, painter, and printmaker based out of Easthampton, New York. He was a founder of the Hyperrealist and Photorealist fine art movements and has been named the first Photorealist artist to take the effect of multiple exposure photography and incorporate it into his landscape paintings. Born on January 9th, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Slovakian immigrants. During his childhood he lived in both Brooklyn Heights, New York and Mount Clemens, Michigan. He graduated from New Haven Highschool in Michigan and continued onto the University of Michigan-Dearborn before he transferred to Wayne State University in Detroit.
Hornak earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art in 1964 and a Master of Fine Arts in studio art in 1966 from Wayne State University. During his career Hornak came to know both Lowell Nesbitt and Gertrude Kasle as well as many other notable figures in the art world. Through these relationships Hornak was introduced to the New York City art scene. Hornak had exhibits at Eleanor Ward's Stable Gallery and in the Tibor de Nagy Gallery where he had his first solo exhibition in New York. Later he moved his exhibitions to the Fischbach Gallery where he remained until 1984, and in 1985 Hornak moved to the Armstrong Gallery in New York City where he had one exhibition. Hornak finally settled at the Katharina Perlow Gallery where he held nine critically and financially successful solo shows.
Ian Hornak passed away on December 9th, 2002 in Southhampton, New York at the age of 58.
Provenance:
Donated 2007 by Ian Hornak estate via Hornak's executor and nephew Eric Ian Spoutz. Spoutz donated 15 additional photographs and a printed card in 2016.
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) -- Long Island Search this
Draftsmen (artists) -- New York (State) Search this
Printmakers -- New York (State) -- Long Island Search this
Ian Hornak papers, 1955-1991. 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.
