Interview with John Ollman

Scope and Contents

An interview with John Ollman conducted 1989 Aug. 10 by Lynda Hartigan for the Archives of American Art Philadelphia Project. Ollman discusses his studies at Indiana University and his connections with the Folklore Department, before moving to Philadelphia. He speaks of his tenure as director of the Janet Fleisher Gallery, including the gallery's early history as the Little Gallery, and the changes he instituted including the name and focus; the exhibitions mounted of African, Oceanic, pre-Columbian, folk art, and the art of 20th century self-taught artists; the growing interest in the work of self-taught artists; an exhibit at the Philadelphia College of Art entitled "Transmitters: The Isolate Artist in America"; the market in Philadelphia and nationally for the work of self-taught artists; his work with Kathy Lenox of the Phyllis Kind Gallery; Bert Hemphill's collection and Hemphill's effect on the folk art field in the United States; the work of Bill Traylor, Martin Ramirez, and other self-taught artists; dealers and collectors he has been associated with.

Biographical / Historical

John Ollman (1942-) is an art dealer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.