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 6

Correspondence 1995-1997

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 1, folder 12

Invoices 1995-1996

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 12

Oakland Museum 1996 June

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 2

Magazines 1996 May-July

box 4, folder 3

Newspapers 1996-1998

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