Descriptive Summary
Biographical/Historical Note
Administrative Information
Separated Materials
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Rolf Nelson Gallery records
Date (inclusive): 1953-1973
Number: 2010.M.38
Creator/Collector:
Rolf Nelson Gallery
Physical Description:
7.7 linear feet
(11 boxes)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
(310) 440-7390
Abstract: The Rolf Nelson Gallery made a significant contribution to the vibrant Southern California art scene of the 1960s by exhibiting
emerging as well as established artists. The archive contains correspondence, photographs, and printed ephemera related to
the operation of the gallery and Nelson's subsequent work as a private dealer. The collection is rich in materials from Lowell
Nesbitt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago, Robert Indiana, Harry Partch and George Herms.
Request Materials: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
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Language: Collection material is in
English.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Rolf Nelson Gallery made a significant contribution to the vibrant Southern California art scene of the 1960s by exhibiting
emerging as well as established artists. Born in Brooklyn in 1935 to Norwegian immigrant parents, Rolf Nelson began his career
at the Martha Jackson Gallery in New York in the early 1960s. After moving to Los Angeles in 1962 Nelson worked at the Southern
California branch of the San Francisco-based Dilexi Gallery. By 1963 he had opened his own gallery in Los Angeles on La Cienega
Boulevard. The gallery was subsequently moved to two other locations on La Cienega Boulevard, gradually expanding with each
move. The Rolf Nelson Gallery played an integral role in disseminating art of the pop movement in the 1960s and promoting
emerging artists such as Llyn Foulkes, George Herms and Jess, along with more established artists including Georgia O'Keeffe,
Judy Chicago and Alfred Jensen. In 1966 Nelson closed his gallery and worked as a private dealer. He returned to New York
by 1972 and retired soon thereafter.
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Rolf Nelson Gallery records, 1953-1973, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 2010.M.38.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2010m38
Acquisition
Acquired in 2010.
Processing History
In 2010 Laura Schroffel processed the collection and wrote the finding aid under the supervision of Andra Darlington.
Separated Materials
Four books were transferred to the Getty Research Library general collection and may be found by searching the
library catalog : Lowell Nesbitt,
Athens in ruins, Rome in ruins, New York in ruins (New York: Gimpel & Weitzenhoffer, 1971); Claes Oldenburg,
Claes Oldenburg (Paris: Ileana Sonnabend, 1964); Lowell Nesbitt,
Lowell Nesbitt: Bilder, Serigraphien (Köln: Galerie M.E. Thelen, 1970); Jess,
Translation (New York: Odyssia Gallery, 1971).
Scope and Content of Collection
The Rolf Nelson Gallery records contain correspondence, photographs, and printed ephemera related to the operation of the
gallery and Nelson's subsequent work as a private dealer. The collection is rich in materials from Lowell Nesbitt, Georgia
O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago, Robert Indiana, Harry Partch and George Herms. There is original artwork by Judi, Jess, George Herms
and Michael Cady. Letters sent and received during Nelson's tenure at the Martha Jackson Gallery and his own gallery make
up the bulk of the collection. While most of the collection deals directly with artists and clients, there are also documents
related to Nelson's involvement with the Save the Museum Committee and the Artist Protest Committee.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the gallery's original order. Files are organized alphabetically by artist, client, institution
or topic, with some files of assorted items grouped under the letter of the alphabet.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
Cady, Michael
Chicago, Judy, 1939-
Herms, George, 1935-
Indiana, Robert , 1928-
Jensen, Alfred, 1903-1981
Jess, 1923-2004
Nesbitt, Lowell, 1933-
O'Keeffe, Georgia, 1887-1986
Subjects - Corporate Bodies
Martha Jackson Gallery
Rolf Nelson Gallery
Subjects - Topics
Art galleries, Commercial--United States
Art, Modern--20th century
Artists--California
Artists-United States-Correspondence
Genres and Forms of Material
Black-and-white negatives
Color slides--United States--20th century
Gelatin silver prints--United States--20th century
Contributors
Cady, Michael
Herms, George, 1935-
Jess, 1923-2004
Nelson, Rolf