Gallery 98’s Marc H Miller sorting through a collection of historic art ephemera
There are so many historically interesting items among the 8,500 examples of art ephemera posted on Gallery 98 that it is sometimes difficult to decide what to feature in our weekly newsletter. This assortment of favorites was chosen to appeal to a broad range of tastes and interests. Each of these items tells a story. For art enthusiasts, this sort of ephemera illustrates what art history looks like forty years later.
Mr. Chow Matchbox with Art by David Hockney and Edward Ruscha, c. 1984
Mr. Chow, Portrait of Mr Chow by David Hockney (1969), Food Painting by Edward Ruscha (1973) on back, Mr Chow Beverly Hills, Matchbox, c. 1984. Matchbox Size: 1.5 x 2 inches — Learn More
In the 1970s and 80s, Mr. Chow restaurants were a favorite gathering spot for artists and celebrities. In addition to his role as restauranteur, Michael Chow was also an art collector. This matchbox created for the Mr. Chow Beverly Hills branch, features works he commissioned from two of L.A.’s most famous artists: David Hockney and Edward Ruscha.
Cindy Sherman on the Cover of the Desire issue of ZG, 1983
ZG (London), No. 7 devoted to the theme Desire with a Cover by Cindy Sherman, 32-Page Magazine, 1983. Magazine Size: 12 x 16 Inches — Learn More
If one collects ephemera connected to a favorite artist, periodicals with cover portraits are always prized items. This copy of ZG, a short-lived art magazine from London, features photographer Cindy Sherman. Each issue of ZG was devoted to a specific theme. Here Sherman illustrates the concept of “Desire”.
Poster for Susan Rothenberg Exhibition at Willard Gallery, 1976
Susan Rothenberg, Willard Gallery, Poster, 1976. Poster Size: 17 x 22 inches — Learn More
Susan Rothenberg (1945 – 2020) enjoyed critical favor in the 1970s for her minimalist paintings that moved away from pure abstraction and reintroduced both imagery and expressionism. This rare vintage poster features Rothenberg’s most popular motif — a horse.
Catalog for Robert Mapplethorpe 1986, Raab Galerie (Berlin), 1987
Robert Mapplethorpe 1986, Raab Galerie (Berlin), 50-page catalogue with a 14-page Mapplethorpe Interview and a remembrance page for Sam Wagstaff, 1987. Catalogue Size: 8.25 x 12 inches — Learn More
Robert Mapplethorpe (1946 – 1989) was at a career highpoint when this catalogue was published. It features an interview with him, as well as, a large selection of his photos of nude black men. The catalogue is also noteworthy for devoting a page in remembrance of Sam Wagstaff, the photo collector and Mapplethorpe mentor who had died of AIDS just a few months earlier.
Card for Peter Beard’s Retrospective at his Studio Gallery “The Time is Always Now,” 1997
Peter Beard, Diary Spread 1978, The Time is Always Now (NYC), Folded Card for the Exhibition “Carnets Africains: A Retrospective,” 1997. Card Size: 6 x 7 inches — Learn More
Peter Beard (1938 – 2020) was a photographer who created elaborate autobiographical collages chronicling his life and passion for African wildlife. The collage for this invitation to an exhibition in his Soho studio, includes photos of Beard, both as a young teenager and as a man in his 30s. The back of the card features a watercolor by an African artist showing Beard being badly gored by an elephant that he was photographing.
Lenticular Card Created by Yayoi Kusama for her Exhibition Infinity Mirrored Room, The Broad (Los Angeles), 2013
Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Mirrored Room – The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, The Broad (Los Angeles), Lenticular Card with two shifting views (seen above), 2013. Card Size: 5 x 7 inches — Learn More
Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929) enjoyed fame in New York in the 1960s, but after returning to Japan in the 1970s, her career lapsed. The 1990s would see a resurgence of interest, and now Kusama is considered one of today’s top artists. Particularly popular are her “infinity rooms,” small closed spaces with hanging colored balls, and walls covered with mirrors that create the illusion of infinite space. This lenticular card strives to capture the infinity room experience by using a printing process that creates the illusion of both depth and of motion when viewed from different angles.
Press Kit for Black Male: Representations of Masculinity in Contemporary Art, Whitney Museum, 1994
Black Male: Representations of Masculinity in Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition Curated by Thelma Golden, Whitney Museum, Press Packet with Five Items including the complete object list and a 22-page pamphlet with a cover by Glenn Ligon, 1994. Press Kit Size: 9 x 12 inches (Folded) 12 x 18 inches (Unfolded) — Learn More
The Black Male, curated by Thelma Golden, now the director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, was one of the most talked about and influential exhibitions in the 1990s. The exhibition addressed aesthetic issues, but also explored the relationship between “today’s art and life in 20th century America.” Including a list of works in the exhibition, film screenings and other information, this press kit is an invaluable record of a historically important exhibition.
