Archives of American Art

Oral history interview with Nathan Oliveira

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.olivei78
Creators:
Oliveira, Nathan, 1928-2010
Karlstrom, Paul J.
Dates:
1978 Aug. 9-1981 Dec. 29
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
92 Pages
Transcript, 1978-1980 sessions
28 Pages
Transcript 1981 session
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
An interview of Nathan Oliveira conducted 1978 Aug. 9-1981 Dec. 29, by Paul Karlstrom, for the Archives of American Art.
Scope and Contents
Oliveira speaks of his family background and ancestry; his childhood; his education; the development of his interest in art; working as a bookbinder; his inspirations from the old masters; studying with Max Beckmann and Otis Oldfield; his U.S. Army service; working with Richard Diebenkorn; getting established in galleries as a printmaker; teaching printmaking; his European travels; living in Illinois and its effect on his career; moving to California; and meeting and working with Martha Jackson. He recalls Billy Al Bengston, Ivan Albright, and Willem de Kooning, and discusses de Kooning's influence on him.
Scope and Contents
Oliveira also speaks of subject matter in his paintings, and his departure from and his later return to the human figure; the relationship between artist and model; the importance and persistence of the figurative tradition in American art; artists he admires. He recalls Keith Boyle and Frank Lobdell.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Nathan Oliveira (1928-2010) was a painter, printmaker, and sculptor from Stanford, Calif.

Administration

Sponsor
Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.
Existence and Location of Copies
1978-1980 session transcript: 35mm microfilm reel 3198 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These interviews are part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
1978-1980 session; transcript: Transcript available on microfilm.

More Information

General

General
Originally recorded on 3 sound tape reels and 2 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 6 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hrs., 39 min.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Figurative art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Printmakers -- California -- Interviews Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artists' models -- California -- Interviews Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- California -- Interviews Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sound recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artists' models Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Albright, Ivan, 1897-1983 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Beckmann, Max, 1884-1950 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bengston, Billy Al Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boyle, Keith Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
De Kooning, Willem, 1904-1997 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diebenkorn, Richard, 1922-1993 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jackson, Martha Kellogg Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oldfield, Otis, 1890-1969 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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