Finding aid for the Mizuno Gallery records, 1955-2005, bulk 1966-1988 2010.M.84
Teresa Soleau
Special Collections
2011
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections
Title: Mizuno Gallery records
Creator:
Celmins, Vija, 1938-
Creator:
Bengston, Billy Al
Creator:
Mizuno Gallery
Creator:
Miller, Henry, 1891-1980
Creator:
Mizuno, Riko
Identifier/Call Number: 2010.M.84
Physical Description:
2.9 Linear Feet
(4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1955-2005 (bulk 1966-1988)
Date (bulk): 1966-1988
Abstract: The Mizuno Gallery occupies an important place in the history of postwar art in Los Angeles as a venue for contemporary art
from 1967 to 1984. The archive includes gallery ephemera, postcards, letters, installation shots and other photographs documenting
gallerist Riko Mizuno's close relationship with the artists she exhibited, and with collectors and other art world personalities.
The most extensively represented artists are Vija Celmins, Billy Al Bengston, and Henry Miller.
Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
catalog record for this collection. Click here for the
access policy .
Language of Material: Collection material is in English.
Arrangement
Organized in three series: Series I. Gallery ephemera, 1967-1983; Series II. General gallery records, 1967-2005; Series III.
Artists' files, 1955-1988.
Biographical / Historical Note
Riko Mizuno operated the Mizuno Gallery from 1967-1984. The gallery occupies an important place in the history of art in postwar
Los Angeles as a venue for contemporary artists such as Chris Burden, Mike Kelley and Billy Al Bengston. Mizuno was born in
Tokyo in 1932. In the mid 1950s, she arrived in Los Angeles assisted by a family friend who also knew Nelbert Murphy Chouinard,
of the Chouinard Art Institute where Mizuno enrolled as a ceramics student. While there, she met many other student artists,
such as Stephan von Huene and Ed Ruscha. In 1966, encouraged by Guy Williams' wife, Mary, Mizuno took over the space formerly
occupied by the Rolf Nelson Gallery and opened Gallery 669.
The first exhibition at Gallery 669 was of Henry Miller's watercolors. The following year, Eugenia Butler joined Mizuno as
co-director of the gallery, but soon left to found her own gallery. Mizuno then renamed the gallery Mizuno Gallery. During
the ten years Mizuno occupied that particular space, she exhibited historical figures associated with the Ferus Gallery, including
Ken Price, Ed Moses, Larry Bell, Robert Irwin, and Billy Al Bengston, and other major artists, such as Vija Celmins, Ay-O,
Jack Goldstein, Alexis Smith, and Doug Wheeler. In addition, Chris Burden's early performance,
Deadman, took place at her gallery in 1972, as did his first solo exhibition (1974). In 1976 Mizuno closed the gallery, and in 1978,
reopened it in Little Tokyo. This was the site of Mike Kelley's first solo exhibition in 1981. Mizuno relocated again in 1983
to 454 N. Robertson Blvd. The gallery closed in 1984. Although Mizuno no longer works out of a public storefront, she continues
to operate as a private dealer.
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Mizuno Gallery records contain correspondence, photographs, and printed ephemera, among other materials that document
the operation of the gallery from its founding in 1967 until 1984. Of approximately 90 exhibitions at the gallery, two-thirds
are represented in some way in this collection. There are also materials from artists whose work was never shown at the gallery.
The collection is rich in materials from Billy Al Bengston, Vija Celmins and Henry Miller. There is original artwork by Billy
Al Bengston, Vija Celmins, Raymond Saunders, Russell Tamblyn and H.C. Westermann.
The ephemera in Series I dates from 1967 to 1983 and includes invitations, postcards and posters from exhibitions held at
Gallery 669 and Mizuno Gallery. The records in Series II date from 1967 to 2005 and include a sales log and guest book as
well as photographs of the gallery. The artist files in Series III date from 1955 to 1988 and include postcards and letters
to Riko Mizuno from the artists, newspaper and journal article clippings, invoices (for works of art), ephemera for exhibitions
not at Mizuno Gallery, correspondence and slides, color and black-and-white photographs, transparencies and photograph negatives
of openings, installations, and artists.
Processing History
In 2011 Teresa Soleau processed the collection and wrote the finding aid under the supervision of Andra Darlington.
Preferred Citation
Mizuno Gallery records, 1955-2005, bulk 1966-1988, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2010.M.84.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2010m84
Acquisition Information
Gift of Riko Mizuno in 2010.
Publication Rights
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Color photographs
Mail art
Black-and-white negatives
Printed ephemera
Clippings (information artifacts)
Artists -- 20th century -- Correspondence
Color slides -- 20th century
Photographs, Original
Art dealers -- United States -- Correspondence
Art galleries, Commercial -- California -- Los Angeles
Black-and-white prints (photographs)
Mizuno Gallery
Gallery 669
Gallery ephemera, Series I.
1967-1983
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
Scope and contents note
This series includes ephemera for shows that took place at Gallery 669 and Mizuno Gallery between 1967 and 1983. See also
artist files for some related exhibition ephemera and duplicates of gallery ephemera.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 1
1960s,
1967-1969
Scope and Contents
1960s ephemera includes a sign hand-made by Mizuno for the first exhibition at Gallery 669 of Henry Miller's watercolors (1967).
box 1, folder 2
1970s,
1970-1979
Scope and Contents
1970s ephemera includes a drawing by Billy Al Bengston that served as an invitation for Candle Lit Show (1970), an exhibition
announcement for Chris Burden's early performance,
Deadman (1972) and a postcard for John Knight's 1973 show drawn over on both sides in ballpoint pen.
box 1, folder 3
1980s,
1980-1983
Scope and Contents
1980s ephemera includes an exhibition announcement for Mike Kelley's first one-man exhibition (1981). See Vija Celmins file
for ephemera from 1983 group show.
box 4*, folder 1, 3, 5-6
Oversize,
1967-1973
Scope and Contents
Oversize ephemera including two copies of a poster from the first exhibition at Gallery 669 of Henry Miller's watercolors
(both signed by Miller (1967)) and two copies of a small poster from Ed Moses' first show at Gallery 669 (1967).
General gallery records, Series II.
1967-2005
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear Feet
Scope and contents note
Business records and gallery documentation including installation photographs. See also individual artist files for openings
and invoices.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 4
Gallery 669 guestbook,
1967
box 1, folder 6
Gallery photographs,
1967-1979
Scope and Contents
Includes a black-and-white photograph of Mizuno during installation of the Plagens show (1970s?) and a photograph of gallery
storeroom featuring works by Celmins, Bell and Wheeler. Also includes facsimile photographs of images from a personal album
of Riko Mizuno's of her with an AY-O piece and of the Henry Miller opening (1967), including a photograph of Sam Francis.
box 3, folder 1
Slides of 1983 gallery designed by Arata Isozaki,
1983
Scope and contents
Photography by Mas Kono.
box 1, folder 6
Receipt for black-and-white enlargements,
2005
Artists' files, Series III.
1955-1988, undated
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear Feet
Scope and contents note
This series includes postcards and letters to Riko Mizuno from the artists, newspaper and journal article clippings, invoices
(for works of art), ephemera for shows not at Mizuno Gallery, correspondence and slides, color and black-and-white photographs,
transparencies and photograph negatives of openings, installations, and artists. See Gallery ephemera series for ephemera
for shows that took place at Gallery 669 and Mizuno Gallery.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically with various individuals and unidentified artists at the end.
Arnoldi, Charles,
1972-1983
box 2, folder 2
Papers and black-and-white photograph,
1972-1973
Scope and Contents
Includes a black-and-white contact print of show at Mizuno Gallery (1972?).
box 3, folder 2
Color slide,
1983
Scope and Contents
Interior installation view of 1983 group show at Mizuno Gallery. Artists featured: Sam Francis and Charles Arnoldi.
box 2, folder 3
AY-O,
1968
Scope and Contents
See General gallery records series for guestbook from 1967 show at Gallery 669 as well as a facsimile photograph from a personal
album of Riko Mizuno's depicting an AY-O work.
box 2, folder 4
Bachardy, Don,
1975
Scope and Contents
Message written to Mizuno on postcard featuring Billy Al Bengston work from 1970.
box 2, folder 5
Bell, Larry,
undated
Scope and Contents
See General gallery records for photograph of storeroom with Bell's work.
Bengston, Billy Al,
1970-1980s
box 2, folder 6
Papers and back-and-white photographs,
1970-1978
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs from 1970 show
Tea Tables and Tapestries with Ed Moses at Mizuno Gallery.
box 3, folder 3
Color slides and color photographs,
1970-1980s
Scope and Contents
Tea Tables and Tapestries with Ed Moses (Dec 1970),
Candle Lit Show (Mar 1970) and gallery opening from the 1980s.
box 2, folder 7
Burden, Chris,
1973-1974
Scope and Contents
Ephemera includes color photocopy of announcement for Burden's
Through the Night Softly (1973).
Celmins, Vija,
1969-1983
Scope and Contents
See General gallery records series for photograph of storeroom with Celmins' work.
box 2, folder 9-10
Papers and black-and-white photographs,
1969-1983
Scope and Contents
Includes ephemera from 1983 group show at Mizuno Gallery drawn on by Celmins, a set of small drawings by Celmins, and photographs
from a 1973 show at Mizuno Gallery.
box 3, folder 4
Medium format negatives,
1970s
Scope and Contents
Photographs feature Celmins with 1970 untitled work (comb).
box 2, folder 11
Chamberlain, John,
1969
Scope and Contents
Photographs of works, possibly from 1969 show at Mizuno Gallery.
box 2, folder 12
Cheng, Kai Bob,
1985-1988
Scope and Contents
Ephemera from 1985 and 1988 shows presented by or in cooperation with Riko Mizuno.
box 2, folder 15
Diebenkorn, Richard,
1981
Dill, Laddie John,
1973, undated
box 2, folder 16
Black-and-white photograph,
1973
Scope and Contents
Photograph from 1973 show at Mizuno Gallery. Photograph by Frank J. Thomas.
box 3, folder 5
Color photograph,
undated
Freeman, Betty,
1974, undated
box 3, folder 6
Color photograph,
undated
box 2, folder 20
Hopper, Dennis,
1965
Scope and Contents
Photograph taken by Hopper of Robert Irwin's studio featuring a prop by Ed Moses (1965).
box 2, folder 21
Irwin, Robert,
1965-1980
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs from 1972 and 1974 shows at Mizuno Gallery. See also Dennis Hopper folder for photograph by Hopper of
Irwin's studio featuring an Ed Moses prop (1965).
box 2, folder 24
Papers and black-and-white photographs
Scope and Contents
Includes a contact sheet with photographs from 1975 show at Mizuno Gallery.
box 3, folder 7
Negatives and transparencies
Scope and Contents
From 1975 show at Mizuno Gallery. For contact sheet of negatives, see papers and black-and-white photographs (Box 2, Folder
24).
box 2, folder 25
Black-and-white photographs,
1981
Scope and Contents
Photographs from 1981 show at Mizuno Gallery.
box 4*, folder 2
Poster,
1982
Scope and Contents
Poster from a show with John Miller and JoAnn Verburg, Visiting Artists Exhibition, Minneapolis College of Art & Design, April
19-29, 1982.
box 2, folder 26
Knight, John,
1973-1974
Scope and Contents
Includes black-and-white photograph of 1973 show at Mizuno Gallery courtesy of Frank J. Thomas Archives.
box 2, folder 29
Little, Penny,
1970
Scope and Contents
See Billy Al Bengston file for note signed by Little.
box 2, folder 30
Madsen, Loren,
1973
Scope and Contents
Vol. 1, no. 1 (May/Jun 1973) of the
Art in America review of exhibitions including review of Madsen's 1973 show at Mizuno Gallery.
box 2, folder 31
Mason, John,
1960
Scope and Contents
See Peter Voulkos file for photograph including Mason.
box 2, folder 32
Miller, Henry,
1955-1968
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs from 1967 opening at Gallery 669. See General gallery records series for guestbook from 1967 show and
facsimle photographs of the opening from an album of Riko Mizuno's.
box 2, folder 34
Moses, Ed,
1957-1980
Scope and Contents
See Dennis Hopper file for photograph by Hopper of Robert Irwin's studio featuring a Moses prop (1965). See Billy Al Bengston
files for photographs and slides of 1970 show Teatables and Tapestries. One photograph also includes Robert Delford Brown.
Includes drafts for invitation to 1980 show at Mizuno Gallery.
box 2, folder 35
Black-and-white photograph
Scope and Contents
Installation photograph of show at Mizuno Gallery.
box 2, folder 37
Saunders, Raymond,
1971
Scope and Contents
Includes a crayon and ink heart drawing by Saunders.
box 4*, folder 4
Shinoyama, Kishin,
undated
box 2, folder 38
Smith, Alexis,
1974
Scope and Contents
Includes photograph from 1974 show at Mizuno Gallery.
box 2, folder 40
Takemoto, Henry,
undated
Scope and Contents
One photograph includes Peter Voulkos. One photograph with sticker on from Lee Nordness Galleries: Untitled: ceramic: catalog
#94.
box 2, folder 41
Tamblyn, Russell,
1973
Scope and Contents
Includes original piece of mail art by Tamblyn.
box 2, folder 42
Voulkos, Peter,
undated
Scope and Contents
"Henry Takemoto" written on the back of all photographs. One photograph includes John Mason. See Henry Takemoto file for photograph
including Voulkos.
box 2, folder 43
Westermann, H.C.
1975
Scope and Contents
Includes envelope with original Westermann woodcut print on the back.
box 2, folder 44
Wheeler, Doug,
1981-1982
Scope and Contents
See General gallery records for photograph of storeroom with Wheeler's work.
box 2, folder 45
Woelffer, Emerson,
undated
box 2, folder 47
Various,
1969-1983
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence from Maurice Tuchman, LACMA curator.
