Sandra Fisher papers, 1957-2007 (bulk 1970-1994)

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Summary

Creators:
Fisher, Sandra
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.
Extent:
17 boxes (8.5 linear ft.) 3 oversize boxes
Language:
Finding aid is written in English.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Ethel Fisher, 2010.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Art Works by Sandra Fisher, 1954-1990 (3 boxes)
  2. Catalogues, 1976-2007 (1.5 boxes)
  3. Correspondence, 1960-1994 (10 boxes)
  4. Memorabilia, 1952-2008 (2 boxes)
  5. Personal Documents, 1968-1995 (1 box)
  6. Projects and Exhibitions, 1976-1994 (1.5)
  7. Publicity, 1969-2007 (11 folders)
  8. Writings about Sandra Fisher, 1982-1995 (14 folders)
  9. Writings by Sandra Fisher, 1983-1995 (6 folders)

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.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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