The Finding Aid of the Michael Zakian Papers 0184
Brendan Morris
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
March 2021
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu 90263-4786
Business Number: (310) 506-4434
Fax Number: (310) 506-4117
kelsey.knox@pepperdine.edu
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: Michael Zakian Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0184
Physical Description:
1.7 Linear Feet
4 Hollinger Boxes, 1 Folder of Nitrate Negatives
Date (inclusive): 1913-1996
Abstract: Michael Zakian was the Director of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum at Pepperdine University. Throughout his life Michael had
a passion for the arts which came through in his work at the Weisman Museum and previous museums he was employed at. This
collection contains research notes, correspondence, financial documents, photographs, photographic slides, and promotional
materials related to Zakian's curatorial work for the Agnes Pelton: A Poet of Nature Exhibition which was on show at the Weisman
Museum in the Spring of 1996.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Series 1
Transferred by Stewart O'Rourke of the Weisman Museum in September 2020.
Biographical
Michael Zakian was born on April 7, 1957 in New York. He became interested in art at a young age and was inspired by pieces
he saw on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art amongst
other museums. After High School, Zakian enrolled in Columbia University and graduated with a Bachelor's in Art History. He
continued his art education at Rutgers University where he worked as a teaching assistant while attaining his Master's with
a focus on American abstract expressionism and later earning his doctorate in the same study.
Zakian moved to Southern California in 1984 and worked at the Palm Springs Art Museum, first as an assistant curator and then
an associate curator. A decade later in 1995, Michael moved from Palm Springs to Malibu to take over as the director of the
Frederick R. Weisman Museum at Pepperdine University. In addition to his work at the Weisman Museum, Michael taught several
courses on topics like baroque and rococo art, architecture, and contemporary art at Pepperdine University.
Zakian practised art himself and published three books on artists and their work, including "Agnes Pelton: Poet of Nature,"
"Sam Francis: Elements and Archetypes" and "Wayne Thiebaud: Works from 1955 to 2003."
Michael Zakian died of pancreatic cancer on January 14, 2020.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Michael Zakian Papers, Collection no. 184, Special Collections and University Archives, University
Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Processing Information
This collection was arranged and described by Brendan Morris, October 2020.
Related Materials
Michael Zakian's book collection was also donated to Pepperdine Libraries. His books can be found both in the general library
collection and special collections.
Separated Materials
3 books were seperated and added to Pepperdine Library's general circulation collection. Zakian authored "Agnes Pelton: Poet
of Nature" and "Wayne Thiebaud: Works on Paper 1948-2004" and contributed a chapter in "Gerardo Reuda."
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art
Malibu (Calif.) -- History
Pepperdine University
Agnes Pelton: Poet of Nature Exhibition
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred by Stewart O'Rourke of the Weisman Museum in September 2020.
Biographical / Historical
Agnes Pelton (1881-1961) was a pioneering modernist artist whose paintings celebrate the beauty of nature. Her work is often
compared to Georgia O'Keeffe. Agnes Pelton: Poet of Nature, the first retrospective exhibition of her art, was curated by
Dr. Michael Zakian, director of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art. It revives her reputation after decades of neglet
and recognizes her as one of the great figures in 20th century American art.
Scope and Contents
This series contains research notes, correspondence, finaincial documents, photographs, photographic slides, and promotional
materials related to Zakian's curatorial work for the Agnes Pelton: A Poet of Nature Exhibition which was on show at the Frederick
R. Weisman Museum in the Spring of 1996.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Administrative records
Financial records
Photographs
Photography -- Negatives
Black-and-white photography
Newspapers
Newsletters
Correspondence
Research and Exhibition Materials
Scope and Contents
This sub-series contains research notes, correspondence, financial documents, photographs, negatives, and photographic slides,
related to Zakian's curatorial work for the Agnes Pelton: A Poet of Nature Exhibition which was on show at the Weisman Museum
in the Spring of 1996. This sub-series provides insight into the work that goes on behind the scenes in order to curate an
exhibition.
box 1, folder 1
Agnes Pelton's Invitation to Exhibit in the Armory Show
1913
box 1, folder 2
Biography of Agnes Pelton
box 1, folder 3
Documents of the Will of Agnes Pelton
1960s
box 1, folder 4
Agnes Pelton: Desert Transcendentalist Working Exhibition Checklist
box 1, folder 5
Publications about Agnes Pelton
1996
box 1, folder 7
Photocopies of Articles about Agnes Pelton
1995-1996
box 1, folder 9
Post-Exhibition "Thank You" Letters to Zakian
1996 April-July
box 2, folder 2
Exhibition Guest Book
1996 November 20
box 2, folder 4
Pelton Catalogue Sales
1996-1997
box 2, folder 5
Pelton Catalogue Sales Receipts
1996 April-July
box 2, folder 6
Exhibition Invitations
1996
box 2, folder 7
Exhibition Wall Labels
1996
box 2, folder 8
Exhibition Expenses
1994-1996
box 2, folder 9
Exhibition Comments Book Pages
1996
box 2, folder 11
Exhibition Reviews
1995-1996
box 2, folder 12
Pelton Exhibition Reviews for The Montclair Art Museum
1995 July-August
box 2, folder 13
Pelton Exhibition Los Angeles Times Reviews
1995-1996
box 2, folder 14
ARTnews, "Ripe for Rediscovery"
1996 November
box 3, folder 1
ARTScene Digest
1996, 1999
box 3, folder 2
Agnes Pelton: Poet of Nature by Michael Zakian
1996
box 3, folder 4
Agnes Pelton Auction Documents
1995-1996
box 3, folder 5
Agnes Pelton: Drawings
1996 September-October
box 3, folder 6
Agnes Pelton Photographs
1995-1996
box 3, folder 7
Painting Loan Forms
1996 April
box 3, folder 8
Pelton Watercolor Photographs
1998 November 9
box 3, folder 9
Penny Perlmatter Fine Arts, Incorporated Correspondence
1996 January-June
box 3, folder 10
Correspondence with Mari Coates
1996-1997
box 3, folder 11
Museum Correspondence
1996-2000
box 3, folder 13
Correspondence with Margaret Stainer
1996 April-November
box 3, folder 14
Exhibition Floor Plan
1996
box 4, folder 1
Agnes Pelton Photographic Slides
box 4, folder 5
William de Kooning Photos and Catalogue
box 4, folder 7
Articles and Notes
1991 March, May
Exhibition Promotional Materials
Scope and Contents
This sub-series contains newspaper clippings, magazines, and other mediums Zakian used to promote the Agnes Pelton: A Poet
of Nature Exhibition which was on show at the Weisman Museum in the Spring of 1996. This sub-series provides insight into
how exhibitions were promoted in the mid-90s.
box 1, folder 8
Zakian's Notes on Promoting the Exhibit
1995-1996
box 1, folder 10-11
Pelton Exhibition Fundraising
1995-1996
box 2, folder 1
Gala Mailing Lists
1996 January-March
box 2, folder 3
Exhibition Public Reception Documents
1996 May-June
box 2, folder 10
Exhibition Press Release
1996 May-June
box 3, folder 3
Los Angeles Times Advertisement Draft
1996 April-May
box 4, folder 4
Desert Sun Next Magazine
1999 July-October
box 4, folder 6
Promotional Museum Materials
1979-2005
box 4, folder 8
Audio Cassettes
1996 April, August