Nicholas Wilder Gallery records
name: label: Creator
content: Nicholas Wilder Gallery
label: Names
content: James Corcoran Gallery
label: Names
content: Altoon, John, 1925-
label: Names
content: Avedisian, Edward, 1936-2007
label: Names
content: Bengston, Billy Al
label: Names
content: Davis, Ron, 1937-
label: Names
content: Francis, Sam, 1923-
label: Names
content: Frankenthaler, Helen, 1928-2011
label: Names
content: Goode, Joe, 1937-
label: Names
content: Graham, Robert, 1938-
label: Names
content: Hockney, David
label: Names
content: Hofmann, Hans, 1880-1966
label: Names
content: Holland, Tom, 1936-
label: Names
content: Martin, Agnes, 1912-2004
label: Names
content: McCracken, John, 1934-2011
label: Names
content: Moses, Ed, 1926-
label: Names
content: Nauman, Bruce, 1941-
label: Names
content: Noland, Kenneth, 1924-
label: Names
content: Olitski, Jules, 1922-
label: Names
content: Price, Kenneth, 1935-2012
label: Names
content: Twombly, Cy, 1928-
label: Names
content: Wilder, Nicholas
label: Names
content: Yokomi, Richard
topic: label: Topic
content: Art dealers -- California -- Los Angeles
label: Topic
content: Artists -- California -- Los Angeles
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The Nicholas Wilder Gallery records were donated to the Archives of American Art in 1998 by Matthew Curtis Klebaum, a friend of Wilder's and a former employee of the James Corcoran Gallery.
creator: label: Creator
content: Nicholas Wilder Gallery
setName: label: See more items in
content: Nicholas Wilder Gallery records
abstract: label: Summary
content: The records of the Nicholas Wilder Gallery of Los Angeles measure 2.4 linear feet and date from 1944 through 1984, with the bulk of materials dating from 1968-1979. Scattered documentation of the contemporary art gallery's fourteen years of operation include artists' inventory cards, photographic transparencies, letters and correspondence, invitations, notes, business and financial documents, and printed materials.
bioghist: label: Historical Note
content: In April 1965, Nicholas Wilder (1937-1989) founded his contemporary art gallery at 814 North La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. His interest in art started at Amherst College where he worked for the art department as a slide technician. While in graduate school at Stanford University, he worked at the Lanyon Gallery in Palo Alto, California. An initial offer of financial backing to open a gallery inspired a move to Los Angeles. Although that offer fell through, Wilder remained determined. In late 1964, Wilder sold shares of his future gallery to friends in order to secure funds. He bought the shares back shortly after opening. 

The Nicholas Wilder Gallery's first show featured Edward Avedisian. The gallery expanded and featured artists from New York and California, including: Joe Goode, John McCracken, Kenneth Noland, Helen Frankenthaler, Jules Olitski, Cy Twombly, Ed Moses, Ken Price, Agnes Martin, John Altoon, Sam Francis, Billy Al Bengston, and Hans Hofmann. The gallery helped start the careers of American artists such as Robert Graham, Tom Holland, Ron Davis, and Bruce Nauman. In 1970, the gallery moved to 8225 ½ Santa Monica Boulevard. Through its fourteen years of operation, the gallery held a new show every month. Wilder's openings represented a large source of pride and he ensured that every opening reception included a stocked bar for his clients. 

Initially, the gallery succeeded through Wilder's talents and passion for art. At its peak, the Nicholas Wilder Gallery sold two million dollars worth of art per year. However, in the mid-1970s a change in attitude within the art world affected sales. According to Wilder, many artists no longer painted for expression but as a viable business venture. Furthermore, he claimed that buyers would not risk collecting works from a younger or less well-known artist. In addition to these factors, Wilder attributed the decline of his gallery to his extravagance and lack of business sensibilities. Eventually, the gallery faced financial problems and Wilder recognized the need to leave the business. 

The Nicholas Wilder Gallery closed on December 31, 1979. Wilder informed his employees that he would close a year in advance and ensured that all of his artists found a new gallery for representation. He moved to New York after leaving his gallery and became an artist. Nicholas Wilder passed away in 1989 from AIDS-related causes.
function: label: Function
content: Art galleries, Commercial -- California
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2.4 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1944-1984
label: Date
content: bulk 1968-1979
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.nichwild
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into four series:

Series 1: Business Records, 1968-1978, 1980-1984, circa 1970s (Box 1; 5 folders)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1974-1981, circa 1970s (Box 1; 4 folders)

Series 3: Printed Material, 1976-1980, circa 1970s (Box 1; 9 folders)

Series 4: Artist Files, 1944-1984, circa 1960s-1970s (Box 1-3; 2 linear feet)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The records were processed by Jayna M. Hanson in 2008 with funding provided by the Getty Foundation.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Content Note
content: The records of the Nicholas Wilder Gallery of Los Angeles measure 2.4 linear feet and date from 1944 through 1984, with the bulk of materials dating from 1968 to 1979. Scattered documentation of the contemporary art gallery's fourteen years of operation include artists' inventory cards (the bulk of the collection), photographic transparencies, letters and correspondence, invitations, notes, business and financial documents, and printed materials. 

The majority of records date from the period after the gallery moved to La Cienega Boulevard to Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Very few records pertaining to specific exhibitions or openings are included in this collection. However, there is one exhibition catalog and scattered gallery invitations which were used as scrap paper. Other materials include business records that contain financial materials and notes. Printed Materials contain popular newspapers and magazines that reflect Wilder's interests, invitations to other galleries, auction catalogs, and business cards. Correspondence includes scattered gallery correspondence, Wilder's personal correspondence and documents, and holiday cards.

 The bulk of the collection consists of artist files which include inventory cards and transparencies of works of art. Information on the inventory cards and transparencies may specify: date of creation, date of accession, potential collectors, purchase records, and titles. Notable artists include: Joe Goode, Tom Holland, Robert Graham, Billy Al Bengston, Cy Twombly, Ken Price, Ed Moses, Ron Davis, John McCracken, Kenneth Noland, Helen Frankenthaler, Jules Olitski, Agnes Martin, Edward Avedisian, John Altoon, Richard Yokomi, Sam Francis, Bruce Nauman, Hans Hofmann, and David Hockney. The majority of inventory cards reflect business at the gallery in the mid-late 1970s. 

Financial records originating from the James Corcoran Gallery are included in this collection. The relationship between the two establishments is unclear although it seems that the James Corcoran Gallery moved into the space previously occupied by the Nicholas Wilder Gallery.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Material
content: Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Nicholas Wilder conducted by Ruth Bowman on July 18, 1988. 

Nicholas Wilder Gallery records, 1927-1980, are also located at the Getty Research Institute.