Joseph Konopka Papers
name: label: Creator
content: Konopka, Joseph, 1932-
topic: label: Topic
content: Landscape painters -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Photo-realism
label: Topic
content: Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The papers were donated in 2003 by Joseph Konopka.
creator: label: Creator
content: Konopka, Joseph, 1932-
setName: label: See more items in
content: Joseph Konopka Papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The Joseph Konopka Papers measure 1.1 linear feet and date from 1965 to 2003. The papers document Konopka's career as a photo-realist and landscape painter through biographical material, correspondence, and artwork.
bioghist: label: Biographical Note
content: Joseph Konopka (b. 1932) is a photo-realist and landscape painter who also works as a scenic artist for NBC-TV in New York City. He lives in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.

A native of Philadelphia, Konopka was raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1954, he graduated from Cooper Union School of Art and the following year completed a set design course at Columbia University. He began working NBC-TV in 1952 as a paint boy, mixing paints and washing brushes for the scenic artists, a position he held for nine months. Konopka later joined the United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 and rose from apprentice (1953) to his current position as a scenic artist at NBC-TV. He has worked for many NBC-TV shows including "Late Night with David Letterman" (1982-1993) and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1993-present).

Konopka often paints in ongoing series. His work process involves taking slides of his subjects from various angles and distances to determine a suitable composition or composite view. Subject matter for Konopka's series includes images of his wife Casimera (Casey) at the Jersey shore, in everyday poses, or putting on makeup; views from the top of the World Trade Center; and lighthouses. For the Art People Cutout Series (circa 1971-1979), Konopka painted portraits of prominent figures in the New Jersey art world such as museum directors (including Sam Miller, Newark Museum) and curators.

Konopka has been represented by Razor Gallery, New York City (circa 1971-1979), Capricorn Galleries, Bethesda, Maryland (circa 1980-1996), and Nathans Art Gallery, West Paterson, New Jersey (circa 1986-1997). From 1976-1985, he served as vice president of the Associated Artists of New Jersey.

Konopka lives in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1.1 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1965-2003
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.konojose
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Drawings
label: Type
content: Sketchbooks
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 3 series:

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1965-2003 (Boxes 1, 3; 0.4 linear feet)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1971-1987 (Box 1; 3 folders)

Series 3: Artwork, 1985-2002 (Boxes 1-3; 0.6 linear feet)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Carla De Luise in 2007.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Drawings
label: Genre/Form
content: Sketchbooks
scopecontent: label: Scope and Content Note
content: The Joseph Konopka Papers measure 1.1 linear feet and date from 1965 to 2003. The papers document Konopka's career as a photo-realist and landscape painter through biographical material, correspondence, and artwork.

Correspondence is with galleries and participants in his Art People Cutout Series. Among the artwork are sketchbooks (9 volumes) and a maquette of the Art People Cutout Series.