Usage conditions may apply for digital images, video, and sound recordings linked within SOVA collections. While digital content may be restricted, SOVA collection descriptions and catalog records are available CC0 for re-use. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Ching Ho Cheng papers, circa 1950-2014, bulk 1970-1989, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.chenchin
- Creators:
-
Cheng, Ching Ho
- Dates:
-
circa 1950-2014bulk 1970-1989
- Languages:
-
Collection is in English
- Physical Description:
-
6.8 Linear feet
- Repository:
The papers of New York City Asian American artist Ching Ho Cheng measure 6.8 linear feet and date from circa 1950 to 2014, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1970-1989. The collection documents Cheng's art career and life through biographical material, correspondence, personal business and estate records, printed material, a scrapbook, photographic material, artwork, sketchbooks, and artifacts.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The papers of New York City Asian American artist Ching Ho Cheng measure 6.8 linear feet and date from circa 1950 to 2014, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1970-1989. The collection documents Cheng's art career and life through biographical material, correspondence, personal business and estate records, printed material, a scrapbook, photographic material, artwork, sketchbooks, and artifacts.
Biographical material includes artist's statements, biographical writings, lists, life and death documents, a memorial book, naturalization paperwork, and one file of collaborative poetry with David Rattray.
Correspondence includes letters and postcards from Cheng's friends, artists, and family, including Tally Brown, Ira Cohen, Gregory Millard, Vali Myers, David Rattray, and Dui Seid.
Personal business and estate records contain contracts, loan agreements, inventories, and other records documenting income and expenses.
Printed material is comprised of books, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, journals, magazines, newsletters, postcards, press releases, programs, and posters documenting Cheng's career.
One scrapbook contains clippings and reproductions of Cheng's work.
Photographic material includes photographs, negatives, and slides featuring portraits of Cheng, Gregory Millard, Tally Brown, Vali Myers, Sybao Cheng-Wilson, and others.
Artwork and fifteen sketchbooks contain drawings and sketches, mostly quick studies of geometric compositions done in pencil, ink, and colored pencil.
Artifacts include a metal box, various fabric scraps, a paintbrush, and a blue enamel mug, which is the subject of one of Cheng's paintings.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as nine series
- Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1970-1990 (0.3 linear foot; Box 1)
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1957-2014 (2.2 linear feet; Box 1-3)
- Series 3: Personal Business and Estate Records, circa 1970-2010 (0.7 linear foot; Box 3-4)
- Series 4: Printed Material, 1954-2011 (1.1 linear feet; Box 4-5, 7, OV 9)
- Series 5: Scrapbook, 1982-1983 (1 folder; Box 5)
- Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1950-1990 (0.4 linear feet; Box 5, 7)
- Series 7: Artwork, circa 1960-1990 (1linear foot; Box 5, 8, OV 10)
- Series 8: Sketchbooks, circa 1970-1990 (0.5 linear feet; Box 6, 8)
- Series 9: Artifacts, circa 1970-1990 (0.6 linear feet; Box 6)
Missing Title
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Ching Ho Cheng (1946-1989) was a Chinese American artist based in New York City.
Cheng was born in Cuba but spent most of life in New York City. After receiving his BFA from the Cooper Union in 1968, Cheng lived in Paris and Amsterdam, where he had his first solo exhibition in 1976. Shortly after, Cheng moved back to New York City. He became associated with the Warhol circle, and took up residence in the Chelsea Hotel, where he lived until his death in 1989.
Working in the pop psychedelic style early in his career, Cheng later developed a technique of creating abstract paintings with stencils and torn paper that he treated and soaked. He was in more than fifteen exhibitions before his death, and his work has been collected posthumously by the Hirshhorn, the Whitney, and many other museums.
Administration
Author
Hilary Price
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Ching Ho Cheng papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2014 and 2016 by Sybao Cheng-Wilson, Cheng's sister and executor of the Ching Ho Cheng estate.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Hilary Price in 2015. The finding aid was updated to reflect the addition in 2016.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Terms of Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Preferred Citation
Ching Ho Cheng papers, circa 1950-2014, bulk 1970-1989. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
Repository Contact
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
