An interview of Ben Heller conducted 1973 Jan. 8, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art. Heller speaks of his youth and education in New York; his early interest in music and literature; starting his painting and sculpture collection; the relationship between artists and collectors; art movements and the impact of collectors on them; art as a financial investment; the changes in his collecting interests; becoming a dealer, and some of the problems involved; the lack of financial support for art institutions; and traveling exhibitions of his collection.
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Ben Heller, 1973 Jan. 8. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Biography Note:
Ben Heller (1925-) is an art collector, patron, and dealer from New York, N.Y.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
This interview is part of the Archives' 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:
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- New York (State) -- Interviews Search this
Art dealers -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews Search this
Art patrons -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews Search this
