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Finding Aid for the Sandra Fisher papers, 1957-2007 (bulk 1970-1994)
1870
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Title: Sandra Fisher papers
Date (inclusive): 1957-2007 (bulk 1970-1994)
Collection number: 1870
Creator:
Fisher, Sandra
Extent:
17 boxes (8.5 linear ft.)
3 oversize boxes
Abstract: Sandra Maureen Fisher was an American artist born on May 6, 1947 in New York City to Ethel and Gene Fisher. She received her
art degree from the Chouinard Art School, California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles in 1968. In 1970, Fisher worked for
director and printmaker Kenneth Tyler at Gemini G.E.L. in Los Angeles. Shortly after moving to London in 1971, Fisher began
a long-term relationship with her future husband, Jewish-American artist R.B. Kitaj. Sandra Fisher's work was featured in
a number of group exhibitions and four solo exhibitions at London galleries: Coracle Press Gallery, 1982; Victoria Miro, 1987;
Odette Gilbert, 1989; and Lefevre Gallery, 1993. Sandra Fisher also enjoyed a great deal of success for her paintings commissioned
by London Transport and Heineken brewers. Her collaborations with the poet Thomas Meyer produced three publications: Sappho
(1982), Sonnets & Tableaux (1987), Monotypes & Tracings (1994). The work of Sandra Fisher is included in several private and
public collections including the British Museum, London; London Transport Museum; National Academy of Design, New York; Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York. In 1994, Sandra Fisher died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm.
Language: Finding aid is written in
English.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library,
Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of
the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC
Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Ethel Fisher, 2010.
[Identification of item], Sandra Fisher papers (Collection 1870). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
6686873
Sandra Maureen Fisher was an American artist born in New York City on May 6, 1947, to Ethel and Gene Fisher. Her early life
was spent primarily in Florida and California. In 1968, Fisher received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Chouinard Art School
at the California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles. She lived in Canada briefly with her first husband, Garry Gregson, before
returning to Los Angeles in 1970. In Los Angeles, Fisher worked at Gemini G.E.L. as an assistant to printmaker Kenneth Tyler.
In 1971, Sandra moved to London in order to pursue her artistic career abroad. Shortly after her arrival, she befriended fellow
artist, and future husband, R.B. Kitaj. She and Kitaj were married in 1983 at Bevis Marks synagogue in London.
Fisher was known for her portrayal of a range of subjects including images drawn from opera and literature. She was also highly
praised for her nudes and portraits. Like others artists in London at the time, she insisted on drawing from the human form.
Sandra often liked to paint other artists, sitting for them in exchange. Several well known artists were painted by Fisher
over the years, including: Maurice Cockrill, Christopher Cook, Stephen Finer, Maggi Hambling, Lino Mannocci, Susannah Phillips
and R.B. Kitaj.
Throughout her artistic career, Sandra was included in several group exhibitions. In 1982, Sandra staged her first solo exhibition
at Coracle Press Gallery. Three subsequent solo exhibitions were held at Victoria Miro, 1987; Odette Gilbert, 1989; and Lefevre
Gallery, 1993. In 1989, Sandra was one of various artists commissioned by London Transport to create original artwork for
a poster series called
Art on the Underground. Due to the success of Sandra's first commission
Boating on Regent's Park, Fisher was asked to do a second poster, the only artist to be given that honor. Sandra also enjoyed public success for her
art works commissioned by Heineken Brewers. At the time of her unexpected death in 1994, Fisher had been working on a series
of paintings commissioned for the Shakespeare Globe Theater in London.
The contents of the Sandra Fisher Papers provide insight into the artist's life and career. The collection includes works
by Sandra Fisher, correspondence, publicity materials, writings about Fisher, exhibition catalogues, materials related to
specific projects and exhibitions, photographs and other collected mementos and ephemera. Of particular interest are original
art works by Sandra Fisher, exhibition catalogues and photographs.
Arranged in the following series:
- Art Works by Sandra Fisher, 1954-1990 (3 boxes)
- Catalogues, 1976-2007 (1.5 boxes)
- Correspondence, 1960-1994 (10 boxes)
- Memorabilia, 1952-2008 (2 boxes)
- Personal Documents, 1968-1995 (1 box)
- Projects and Exhibitions, 1976-1994 (1.5)
- Publicity, 1969-2007 (11 folders)
- Writings about Sandra Fisher, 1982-1995 (14 folders)
- Writings by Sandra Fisher, 1983-1995 (6 folders)
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Fisher, Sandra---Archives.
R.B. Kitaj papers (Collection Number 1741)
. Available at Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.