Richard Kuhlenschmidt Gallery

The Richard Kuhlenschmidt Gallery was a contemporary art gallery originally located in Los Angeles, California, USA. It played an important part in setting the stage for Los Angeles' emergence as an international art center in the 1980s.[1] It opened in 1982 and eventually closed in 1993 but it was preceded by Jancar Kuhlenschmidt Gallery that put down most of the ground work for what would follow.

History

Tom Jancar and Richard Kuhlenschmidt opened Jancar Kuhlenschmidt Gallery in 1980. The Jancar Kuhlenschmidt Gallery was located in the basement of the historic Los Altos Apartments [2] on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. The gallery measured 8’ x 14’.[3] The gallery was responsible for showing Los Angeles artists David Askevold, William Leavitt, and Christopher Williams (artist) as well as NY artists Louise Lawler and Richard Prince who are part of the Pictures Generation artists. Jancar Kuhlenschmidt Gallery closed in 1982.

Richard Kuhlenschmidt Gallery began in 1982 and continued to focus on the Pictures Generation, most of these artists contacts were introduced during the Jancar Kuhlenschmidt Gallery period, they are as follows Sherrie Levine,[4] James Welling, Matt Mullican, Allan McCollum and James Casebere in addition to Douglas Huebler, one of the pioneers of conceptual art.

Known for showing "art that was very difficult to sell",[5] Kuhlenschmidt's gallery was described at the time as "the only gallery in Los Angeles devoted to showing artists who are principally influenced by intellectual and conceptual concerns."[6]

In 1985, Kuhlenschmidt sponsored a benefit exhibition for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) in tribute to friend and colleague Joe Bishop, a prominent writer and critic, whose death from AIDS had recently rocked the art world. The “Joe Bishop AIDS Benefit” exhibition included work by John Baldessari, Ross Bleckner, Robert Longo, David Salle, Cindy Sherman and Eric Fischl.[7]

Kuhlenschmidt moved his gallery to Santa Monica in 1988 as that city became a magnet for the burgeoning local art scene.[8]

In 1990, the gallery featured a major overview of works by the Viennese architectural firm, Coop Himmelb(l)au, which included a symposium “Welcome to the Millenium: Architecture Strikes Back” that included Wolf Prix of Coop Himmelblau, as well as notable Los Angeles architects Thom Mayne, Michael Rotondi and Eric Moss.[9] The symposium was moderated by architect Christian Hubert and included architectural critics Aaron Betsky and Leon Whiteson.[10]

When the recession hit in 1991, Kuhlenschmidt reduced the size of his gallery from 4,000 square feet to 1,700.[11] The gallery closed its doors in 1993.

The gallery’s archives are currently stored in the Smithsonian Archives of American Art.[5][12]

Artists

Significant artists previously represented by the Richard Kuhlenschmidt Gallery include:

References
  1. Grenier, Catherine (2007). Catalog L.A. Birth of an Art Capital 1955-1985. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
  2. McKenna, Kristine (April 28, 2005). "Someone Left the Cake Out in the Rain". LA Weekly. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  3. Gimelson, Deborah (November 1989). "CA Conceptual". Art & Auction.
  4. Singerman, Howard (September 1983). "Sherrie Levine:Richard Kuhlenschmidt Gallery". Artforum.
  5. "Archives of American Art, Richard Kuhlenschmidt gallery records". Retrieved 2012-08-25.
  6. Drohojowska, Hunter (September 24, 1984). "Two galleries want to change the way we think about art". Los Angeles Herald Examiner.
  7. Drohojowska, Hunter (September 6, 1985). "L.A. art community organizes AIDS benefit". Los Angeles Herald Examiner.
  8. Gluck, Grace (January 23, 1990). "Galleries: Westward Ho to Santa Monica". New York Times.
  9. "Architecture Exhibit Features Models". Los Angeles Times. July 22, 1990.
  10. Caffey, Ben (October–November 1990). "Them vs Us". LA Forum for Architecture and Urban Design. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
  11. Muchnic, Suzane (April 14, 1991). "Dealers are worried: Art market's fall divides investors, sincere partons". Arizona Republic.
  12. Drohojowska-Philip, Hunter (Fall 2014). "Collector's Note:Additions to the Richard Kuhlenschmidt Papers". Archives of American Art Journal.
  13. Kandel, Susan (March 5, 1992). "Photographic Duality". Los Angeles Times.
  14. Gardnerl, Colin (December 1990). "Cindy Bernard:Richard Kuhlenschmidt". Artforum.
  15. Knight, Christopher (March 10, 1989). "Bloom's 'Esprit' is Evident". Los Angeles Herald Examiner.
  16. Donahue, Marlena (March 10, 1989). "eview of exhibition at Richard Kuhlenschmidt". Los Angeles Times.
  17. Curtis, Cathy (March 2, 1990). "The Galleries: Santa Monica". Los Angeles Times.
  18. Singerman, Howard (March 20–26, 1987). "Pick of the Week". LA Weekly.
  19. Drohojowska, Hunter (February 3–9, 1984). "Obsessions with Symbols, Cliches and Technology". LA Weekly.
  20. Drohojowska, Hunter (April–May 1984). "Review of "William Leavitt" at Richard Kuhlenschmidt Gallery". Flash Art.
  21. Gardener, Colin (September 10, 1983). "Considering the Banal". Artweek.
  22. Drohojowska, Hunter (December 1982). "The Paintings of Robin Winters:Moments of Truth". LA Weekly.
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