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475:(1990); "Artist's Artists" at Long Beach Museum of Art in Long Beach, California (1990); "Wallace Berman, Bruce Conner, Jay DeFeo, George Herms and Jess" at Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery, New York (1991); "California Artist's Books" at The Armory Center in Pasadena, California (1991); "Poem Makers: Wallace Berman, George Herms and Jess" at L.A. Louver Gallery in Los Angeles (1992); and, "Sight, Vision: The Urban Milieu #3 (Wallace Berman, Bruce Conner, Jay DeFeo, Wally Hedrick, George Herms, and Jess") at
426:(1983), which traveled and produced a catalogue; "Collage, The Americans" at The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas (1983), which produced a catalogue; "Contemporary Collage: Extensions" at Galleries of the Claremont Colleges (1983), which produced a catalogue; "Narrative Sculpture" at Palm Springs Desert Museum (1984), which produced a catalogue; "American/European: Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture" at L.A. Louver Gallery (1984); "Gala, Gala" at The Museum of Contemporary Art (
409:(1980), which produced a catalogue; "Furnishings by Artists" at the Art Gallery at Otis Art Institute of the Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles (1980), which produced a catalogue; "Southern California Artists 1940–1980" at the Laguna Beach Museum of Art in Laguna Beach, California (1981), which produced a catalogue; "Collage and Assemblage" at the
483:(1992). In 2011, Herms was the focus of a group show at the Museum of Contemporary Art at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles entitled "Xenophilia (Love of the Unknown)." Herms work was included in the 2016-2017 exhibition "Based on a True Story: Highlights from the di Rosa Collection" at di Rosa, Napa, curated by Amy Owen.
417:(LACE) (1981); "Humor in Art" at the Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art (1981); "California: A Sense of Individualism" at L.A. Louver Gallery in Venice, California (1981); "California: The State of Landscape 1972–1981" at Newport Harbor Art Museum (1981), which traveled and produced a catalogue; "The West as Art" at
421:
in Palm
Springs, California (1982), which produced a catalogue; "Contemporary Triptychs" at Galleries of the Claremont Colleges in Claremont (1982); "American/European Painting and Sculpture" at L.A. Louver Gallery (1983); "Boxed Art" at Laguna Beach Museum of Art (1983); "Annual Exhibition, American
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in
British Columbia, Canada (1989), which produced a catalogue; "Artists Against AIDS" at Pacific Design Center (1989), which produced a catalogue; "The 'Junk Aesthetic': Assemblage of the 1950s and Early 1960s" at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Fairfield County Branch in Stamford, Connecticut
138:
Subsequently, he worked for
Remington Rand, on the Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC), before leaving for Mexico and other travels. His parents offered him $ 100 per month to return to college, so he took the money and "bought some jazz records and lived on $ 13 per month," and returned to Los
81:
out of discarded, often rusty, dirty or broken every-day objects, and juxtaposing those objects so as to infuse them with poetry, humor and meaning. He is also known for his works on paper, including works with ink, collage, drawing, paint and poetry. The prolific Herms has also created theater
151:
bus depot and said, "There's the makers, the takers, and the fakers. Which will you be?" Herms did not have a formal art school education, yet he has been called the "godfather of West Coast assemblage art." During the late 1950s, Herms resided in a number of different cities in
California,
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taught him that "any object, even a mundane cast-off, could be of great interest if contextualized properly." "That’s my whole thing," Herms says. "I turn shit into gold. I just really want to see something I've never seen before." George Herms lives and works in Los
Angeles.
564:
in
Sculpture from 1983 to 1984. In 1987, he was awarded a Working Grant from the Pollock Krasner Foundation and, in 1989, he was a Finalist in the "Pico Seagate" competition. Herms also received the 1998 Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Award and a Fellowship at the
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Herms was included in a number of important group exhibitions in the 1980s, including "Recent
Acquisitions" at the Newport Harbor Art Museum (1980); "Major Works" at L.A. Louver Gallery (1980); "Sculpture in California 1975–80" at the San Diego Art Museum in
245:(1975) called "Pseudonymphia" and featuring the work of several of Herms's imaginary artists such as Paul Mistrie, Eric Hammerscoffer, Iris Firewater, Sigmund Fletcher, and Astropoet Moonstone (Tarzan Feathers was not included in the show); several shows at
340:
in New York, which exhibition traveled and produced a catalog. In 1964, his work was included in "Sterling
Holloway Collection" at UCLA. In 1967, he participated in the group exhibition"Selection, 1967: Recent Acquisitions in Modern Art," at the
261:(1980); an exhibition at the University of Denver Art Gallery (1981); a show at California State University at Fullerton (1984); a show at the Oscarsson/Siegeltuch Gallery in New York (1986); a show at the Tyler Gallery at Temple University in
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in
Oakland, California (1985), which produced a catalogue; "Sculpture and Sculptor's Drawings" at the L.A. Louver Gallery (1986); "Shrines and Altars" at Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin (1986); "Recent Acquisitions" at the
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Herms received three
Individual Fellowships in 1968, 1977 and 1984, respectively. Herms was also awarded the Rome Prize, Fellowship in Sculpture from The American Academy in Rome from 1982 to 1983. Herms was subsequently granted a
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Its members included Jay de Feo, Michael McClure, Manuel Neri and Joan Brown. See Rebecca Solnit, ‘Heretical Constellations: Notes on California, 1946–61’, in Sussman, ed., Beat Culture and the New America, 69–122, especially
401:(1976–77), which traveled and was catalogued; "3 Generations-Studies in Collage," Margo Leavin Gallery in Los Angeles (1978); and "100 + Directions in Southern California Art, Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art (1978).
135:, and his father was an agronomist. During World War II, Herms was sent by his parents to the College of Engineering at Berkeley, which he left after approximately six weeks when "the football season was over."
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Following his participation in other major group exhibitions in the 1960s, Herms continued to be selected for major group exhibitions in the 1970s, including: "Tableaux d'Aujourd'hui" at Maitre Binoche in
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for which a catalogue was produced (1992); a show at Redbud Gallery in Houston, Texas (2002); a show at Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia (2002), for which a catalogue was produced; two shows at
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George Herms has had public art commissions, including "Clock Tower Monument in Unknown" at the MacArthur Public Art Program in Los Angeles (1987); "Moon Dial" in
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at the Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. Accession No. 2009.M.20. The bulk of the papers comprise full documentation of Herms's life and work from 1960–2000.
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Herms participated in major group exhibitions in the 1990s, including "The Denim Jacket Show" at the Newport Harbor Art Museum (1990); "Novel Ideas" at the
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456:(1989), which traveled; and "Forty Years of California Assemblage" at the Wight Art Gallery at UCLA (1989), which traveled and produced a catalogue.
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in Colorado, and in 1991 an artist in residence at The Robbins Foundation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1994, he was an artist in residence at
841:"Oral history interview with George Herms, 1993 Dec. 8-1994 Mar 10, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution – Session 2, Tape 1, Side A"
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in New York, which traveled to a number of other venues and produced a catalog, and Herms's work was selected for inclusion in "Object Makers" at
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439:(LACMA) in Los Angeles (1987); "Assemblage" at Kent Fine Art, Inc. in New York (1987), which produced a catalogue; "Artists Against AIDS" at
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Angeles, living for some time in Topanga Canyon, where he met the artists Wallace Berman on the occasion of his 20th birthday. Herms helped
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737:"Oral history interview with George Herms, 1993 Dec. 8-1994 Mar 10, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution – Tape 1, Side A"
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George Herms's work has been selected for group exhibitions, beginning with the "Gangbang" exhibition in 1960 at the Batman Gallery in
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430:), Los Angeles (1985); "American/European: Painting and Sculpture" at L.A. Louver Gallery (1985); "San Francisco: 1945–1965" at the
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in Los Angeles (1988), which produced a catalogue; "Loans from the Norton Simon Museum" at LACMA (1988); "Poetic Objects" at the
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373:(1974), which traveled and produced a catalogue; and, in 1974, Herms was selected for exhibitions at Giancarlo Bocchi Gallery in
397:(1975); "Great Egg Sale" at the Newport Harbor Art Museum (1976); "Painting and Sculpture in California: The Modern Era" at the
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box big enough that you can walk around in. It's just a continuation of my sculpture, one year at a time." Legendary curator
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241:(1972) and the Memorial Union Art Gallery at UC Davis (1973), for which catalogues were produced; a show at TJB Gallery in
257:(1979), which traveled and for which a catalogue was produced; a show at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in
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332:. In 1963, his work appeared in the group exhibition "California Collage Show" at the Pasadena Museum of Art in
237:(1963, 1966); two shows at the Molly Barnes Gallery (1969, 1970); a retrospective of works from 1960 to 1972 at
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The following year George Herms was included in the ground-breaking exhibition "The Art of Assemblage" at the
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before returning for a short period of time to Topanga in 1961. In 1959, Herms became an original member of
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1987 Taught Sculpture, Otis Parsons, Los Angeles, CA1985 Lecturer, University of California, San Diego, CA
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1991-98 Taught Sculpture, Santa Monica College of Design, Art and Architecture, Santa Monica, CA
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in Jackson, Mississippi (1981), which traveled and produced a catalogue; a group show at
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One of George Herms's earliest solo shows, "Secret Exhibitions," was mounted in 1957 in
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365:(1972), which produced a catalogue; "Kurt Schwitters and Related Developments," at the
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in San Antonio, Texas (1988–89), which traveled and produced a catalogue; "Rezoning (
253:(1976, 1982, 1986, 1989); a retrospective exhibition at Newport Harbor Art Museum in
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2006 Artist-in-Residence, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Madison, ME
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2009 Lecturer in Drawing and Painting, California State University, Fullerton, CA
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467:(1990); "Crossing the Line: Word and Image in Art" at the Montgomery Gallery at
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978:"Based on a True Story:Highlights from the di Rosa Collection | di Rosa"
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357:(1971); "Surrealism is Alive and Well in the West," at the Baxter Gallery at
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ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART – RESEARCH COLLECTIONS > ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS
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ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART – RESEARCH COLLECTIONS > ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS
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and was also selected for "Fifty California Artists," an exhibition at the
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369:(1973); "Poets of the Cities of New York and San Francisco 1950–1965,"
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644:"Play Anything You Want: Mark Allen and George Herms in Conversation"
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1977-79 Visiting Artist, California State University, Fullerton, CA
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in Los Angeles (2003, 2004); a retrospective exhibition curated by
587:"Pacific Standard Time at the Getty Center, George Herms – Artist"
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1991 Artist in Residence, The Robbins Foundation, Philadelphia, PA
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1976 Lecturer in Studio Art, University of California, Irvine, CA
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293:(2008); an avant-garde "jazz opera" performed at REDCAT Gallery,
927:"Jazz Opera Review: 'George Herms: The Artist's Life' at REDCAT"
953:"George Herms, Beat Artist, on His New MOCA Show 'Xenophilia'"
879:"Naming: Heteronymy and the Imaginary Artists of George Herms"
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in Los Angeles (2013); "George Herms: On and Off the Wall" at
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awarded George Herms the "Servant of Holy Beauty" award. The
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131:. His grandfather was an entomologist and one-time mayor of
787:. Pasadena, California: Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery.
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1980-81 Lecturer, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
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1987-94 Lecturer, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
393:(1975); "Assemblage' and "3 Los Angeles Sculptors" at the
77:(born 1935) is an American artist best known for creating
102:, and Joseph Cornell, as well as California luminaries
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1994 Taught Sculpture, Otis Parsons, Los Angeles, CA
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chose Herms's works for "Assemblage in California."
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Santa Monica College of Design, Art and Architecture
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1981 Artist in Residence, University of Denver, CO.
200:. In 1981, Herms was an artist in residence at the
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611:Herr, Jeffrey (1992). "Annex to Secret Archives".
82:pieces, about which he has said, "I treat it as a
289:, Paris (2007); a show at Susan Inglett Gallery,
196:. From 1977 to 1979, he was a Visiting Artist at
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503:Visiting artist, artist residencies and teaching
381:in Los Angeles, and by the Otis Library, at the
297:’ experimental art venue (2011); and a show at
281:(2005); a show at Franklin Parrasch Gallery in
385:in Los Angeles, California; "Other Voices" at
233:(1961); two shows at Rolf Nelson Gallery in
110:." Often called a member of the West Coast
180:Herms has been a lecturer in Studio Art at
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1058:University of California, Berkeley alumni
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783:Larsen, Susan (1992). "Ethical Alchemy".
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395:Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art
265:(1988); a retrospective organized at the
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451:, George Herms, Jess and Al Neil)" at
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495:(1988); and, "Portals to Poetry" in
415:Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions
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367:La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art
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190:University of California, San Diego
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951:Duvernoy, Sophie (July 11, 2011).
399:San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
347:University of California at Irvine
343:University of California, Berkeley
170:Rat Bastard Protective Association
56:University of California, Berkeley
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785:George Herms: The Secret Archives
707:Zhong, Fan (September 13, 2013).
617:Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery
613:George Herms: The Secret Archives
267:Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery
127:George Herms was born in 1935 in
1053:People from Woodland, California
876:Steinberg, Monica (2018-06-01).
562:John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship
437:Los Angeles County Museum of Art
182:University of California, Irvine
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925:Swed, Mark (February 4, 2011).
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557:National Endowment for the Arts
143:hang his first show in 1957 at
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338:Whitney Museum of American Art
229:(1960); the Batman Gallery in
206:Otis College of Art and Design
188:(UCLA); Sculpture at UCLA and
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68:, works on paper, and poetry
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681:Santa Monica Museum of Art
419:Palm Springs Desert Museum
371:Dallas Museum of Fine Arts
279:Santa Monica Museum of Art
847:. Smithsonian Institution
743:. Smithsonian Institution
709:"George Herms Re-emerges"
493:Beverly Hills, California
445:San Antonio Museum of Art
411:Mississippi Museum of Art
255:Newport Beach, California
243:Newport Beach, California
192:; and, Public Art at the
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1063:Artists from Los Angeles
615:. Pasadena, California:
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567:Getty Research Institute
176:Teaching and residencies
123:Early life and education
992:"Profile: George Herms"
677:"George Herms: Hot Set"
499:in Los Angeles (1989).
379:Nicholas Wilder Gallery
1043:Beat Generation people
305:in Los Angeles (2013)
811:(December 15, 2010).
473:Claremont, California
453:Vancouver Art Gallery
441:Pacific Design Center
407:San Diego, California
387:Mount Holyoke College
345:. The next year, the
303:Louis Stern Fine Arts
259:Santa Ana, California
477:Gallery Paule Anglim
422:Academy in Rome" in
363:Pasadena, California
334:Pasadena, California
322:Museum of Modern Art
227:Larkspur, California
212:Selected exhibitions
202:University of Denver
133:Berkeley, California
129:Woodland, California
45:Woodland, California
1017:George Herms papers
809:Bollen, Christopher
1048:Assemblage artists
818:Interview Magazine
652:. October 10, 2010
619:. pp. 73–76.
383:Otis Art Institute
285:(2006); a show at
251:Venice, California
114:, Herms said that
931:Los Angeles Times
839:Karlstrom, Paul.
735:Karlstrom, Paul.
543:Awards and honors
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247:L.A. Louver
235:Los Angeles
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1027:Categories
994:. ArtSlant
714:W Magazine
487:Public art
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149:Sacramento
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569:in 2000.
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