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Catalog Data

Interviewee:
Oliveira, Nathan, 1928-2010  Search this
Interviewer:
Karlstrom, Paul J  Search this
Subject:
Albright, Ivan  Search this
Beckmann, Max  Search this
Bengston, Billy Al  Search this
Boyle, Keith  Search this
De Kooning, Willem  Search this
Diebenkorn, Richard  Search this
Jackson, Martha Kellogg  Search this
Oldfield, Otis  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Place of publication, production, or execution:
United States
Physical Description:
92 Pages, Transcript, 1978-1980 sessions; 28 Pages, Transcript 1981 session
General Note:
Originally recorded on 3 sound tape reels and 2 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 6 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hrs., 39 min.
Access Note / Rights:
1978-1980 session; transcript: Transcript available on microfilm.
Summary:
An interview of Nathan Oliveira conducted 1978 Aug. 9-1981 Dec. 29, by Paul Karlstrom, for the Archives of American Art.
Oliveira speaks of his family background and ancestry; his childhood; his education; the development of his interest in art; working as a bookbinder; his inspirations from the old masters; studying with Max Beckmann and Otis Oldfield; his U.S. Army service; working with Richard Diebenkorn; getting established in galleries as a printmaker; teaching printmaking; his European travels; living in Illinois and its effect on his career; moving to California; and meeting and working with Martha Jackson. He recalls Billy Al Bengston, Ivan Albright, and Willem de Kooning, and discusses de Kooning's influence on him.
Oliveira also speaks of subject matter in his paintings, and his departure from and his later return to the human figure; the relationship between artist and model; the importance and persistence of the figurative tradition in American art; artists he admires. He recalls Keith Boyle and Frank Lobdell.
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Nathan Oliveira, 1978 Aug. 9-1981 Dec. 29. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
1978-1980 session transcript: 35mm microfilm reel 3198 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Funding:
Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.
Biography Note:
Nathan Oliveira (1928-2010) was a painter, printmaker, and sculptor from Stanford, Calif.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
These interviews are part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Topic:
Figurative art  Search this
Printmakers -- California -- Interviews  Search this
Artists' models -- California -- Interviews  Search this
Painters -- California -- Interviews  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)11895
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212067
AAA_collcode_olivei78
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_212067