Mel Ramos papers
name: label: Creator
content: Ramos, Mel, 1935-2018
label: Names
content: Alloway, Lawrence, 1926-1990
label: Names
content: Lichtenstein, Roy, 1923-1997
label: Names
content: Thiebaud, Wayne
label: Names
content: Wesselmann, Tom, 1931-2004
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- California -- Oakland
label: Topic
content: Painting, Modern -- 20th century -- California
label: Topic
content: Pop art
label: Topic
content: Hispanic American artists
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated by Mel Ramos in July 1985.
creator: label: Creator
content: Ramos, Mel, 1935-2018
setName: label: See more items in
content: Mel Ramos papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of California pop artist and teacher Mel Ramos measure 0.6 linear feet and date from 1959 to 1984. The collection documents Ramos's career as an artist through correspondence with Lawrence Alloway, Dwan Gallery, Roy Lichtenstein, David Stuart, and Tom Wesselman, among others; a few inventories, invoices, and loan agreements; documentation of his work with the San Francisco Art Institute; and exhibition announcements and catalogs. Writings include two manuscripts on Ramos and the Pop Art movement, a one-page interview of Ramos, and poetry by Robin Skelton. Of interest in the collection, are files containing photographs, photo-collages, and clippings used for paintings such as "Elephant Seal," "Virnaburger," and "Manet's Olympia."
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Mel Ramos (1935-2018), born Melvin John Ramos, was a painter, pop artist, and teacher in California. Ramos was born in Sacramento, California. In 1955 he married Leta Helmers, who served as a model for many of his early paintings. Ramos received his M.A. from Sacramento State College in 1958 and taught a Mira Loma High School. In 1963 his work was included in Six More, a major exhibition of Pop Art at the Los Angeles County Museum. One year later he had his first solo show in New York at Bianchini Gallery. In 1965, he began showing his art at David Stuart Gallery in Los Angeles. Ramos also had a long career (1966-1997) as a professor at California State University, East Bay.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.6 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1959-1984
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.ramomel
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Works of art
label: Type
content: Interviews
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Due to the small size of this collection, the papers are arranged as one series.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Erin Kinhart in 2018.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: The collection is available on microfilm reels 3652-3653 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Works of art
label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of California pop artist and teacher Mel Ramos measure 0.6 linear feet and date from 1959 to 1984. The collection documents Ramos's career as an artist through correspondence with Lawrence Alloway, Dwan Gallery, Roy Lichtenstein, David Stuart, and Tom Wesselman, among others; a few inventories, invoices, and loan agreements; documentation of his work with the San Francisco Art Institute; and exhibition announcements and catalogs. Writings include two manuscripts on Ramos and the Pop Art movement, a one-page interview of Ramos, and poetry by Robin Skelton. Of interest in the collection, are files containing photographs, photo-collages, and clippings used for paintings such as "Elephant Seal," "Virnaburger," and "Manet's Olympia."
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Also found at the Archives of American Art is an interview of Mel Ramos conducted on May 15, 1981, by Paul Karlstrom.