An interview of John Ollman conducted 1990 Mar. 15, by Liza Kirwin for the Archives of American Art Philadelphia Project.
Ollman speaks of his studies at the Philadelphia College of Art and at Indiana University before becoming director of the Janet Fleisher Gallery; the gallery's change of focus towards American Art, specifically the work of folk and self-taught artists, and visionary artists. He discusses the changes in collecting over the past twenty years; collectors, such as Bert Hemphill; trends in collecting; artists whose work he has sold; other galleries with which he has worked, including the Phyllis Kind and Cavin Morris Galleries.
Biographical / Historical:
John E. Ollman (1942- ) is an art dealer from Philadelphia, Pa.
General:
Originally recorded on 2 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 4 digital wav files. Duration is 2 hrs., 34 min.
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.
Restrictions:
Transcript: Patrons must use microfilm copy.
Occupation:
Art dealers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
79 Pages (Transcript: (on partial microfilm reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sound cassettes
Pages
Sound recordings
Interviews
Date:
1989 Aug. 10
Scope and Contents:
An interview of John Ollman conducted by Lynda Hartigan for the Archives of American Art Philadelphia Project. Ollman discusses his studies at Indiana University and his connections with the Folklore Department, before moving to Philadelphia. He speaks of his tenure as director of the Janet Fleisher Gallery, including the gallery's early history as the Little Gallery, and the changes he instituted including the name and focus;
the exhibitions mounted of African, Oceanic, pre-Columbian, folk art, and the art of 20th century self-taught artists; the growing interest in the work of self-taught artists; an exhibit at the Philadelphia College of Art entitled "Transmitters: The Isolate Artist in America"; the market in Philadelphia and nationally for the work of self-taught artists; his work with Kathy Lenox of the Phyllis Kind Gallery; Bert Hemphill's collection and Hemphill's effect on the folk art field in the United States; the work of Bill Traylor, Martin Ramirez, and other self-taught artists; dealers and collectors he has been associated with.
Biographical / Historical:
Art dealer; Philadelphia, Pa.
Provenance:
Donated 1990 by John Ollman.
Restrictions:
Transcript: Patrons must use microfilm copy.
Occupation:
Art dealers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with John Ollman, 1990 Mar. 15. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
