Graham, John, 1887-1961

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Jack Mayer was an art dealer and owner of Gallery Mayer, New York, which handled the work of painter John Graham. Graham, born Ivan Gratsianovitch Dombrovski in Kiev, Russia in 1886 (baptised in 1881, hence the use of that year on many authoritative sources), came to N.Y. in 1920 and was a central figure among American avant-garde artists, especially from the late 1920s to 1940s. Graham was also a collector of African art which inspired an interest in primitivism in his work. Graham moved to Mexico in 1936. In 1937 he published Systems and Dialectics of Art, stimulating American artists interest in primitive art.

From the description of Papers of and related to John D. Graham, [ca. 1950-1960]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86118714

Painter, collector; New York and Mexico.

Born Ivan Gratsianovitch Dombrovski in Kiev, Russia. His birthday is listed as 27 December, 1886 but after 1917 Russia adopted the Gregorian calendar changing the date to 7 January, 1887. He moved to New York in 1920, changing his name to John Dabrowsky Graham. He was a central figure among American avant-garde artists, especially from the late 1920's-1940's.

From the description of John D. Graham notebook and sketchbook, 1944-1946. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122370586

John D. Graham (1887-1961) was a painter and collector from New York and Mexico.

Born Ivan Gratsianovitch Dombrovski in Kiev, Russia. Various legal documents list his birth as 1886, 1887, or 1888. He moved to New York in 1920, changing his name to John Dabrowsky Graham. He was a central figure among American avant-garde artists, especially from the late 1920's-1940's. His understanding of cubism and surrealism made him a link to the European art scene. He helped Stuart Davis, Lee Krasner, William de Kooning, Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock, and David Smith gain recognition and critical acclaim. His interest in horses, Jungian psychology, yoga, and the occult appear as themes in his work. Graham collected African art which he exhibited in New York inspiring an interest in primitivism among artists. Frank Crowninshield commissioned Graham to assemble an African art collection for him. Graham moved to Mexico in 1936. In 1937, he published SYSTEMS AND DIALECTICS OF ART, stimulating American artists interest in primitive art.

From the description of John D. Graham papers, 1799-1988, bulk 1890-1961. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 430379235

Painter, collector; New York and Mexico.

Born Ivan Gratsianovitch Dombrovski in Kiev, Russia. Various legal documents list his birth as 1886, 1887, or 1888. He moved to New York in 1920, changing his name to John Dabrowsky Graham. He was a central figure among American avant-garde artists, especially from the late 1920's - 1940's. His understanding of cubism and surrealism made him a link to the European art scene. He helped Stuart Davis, Lee Krasner, William de Kooning, Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock, and David Smith gain recognition and critical acclaim. His interest in horses, Jungian psychology, yoga, and the occult appear as themes in his work. Graham collected African art which he exhibited in New York inspiring an interest in primitivism among artists. Frank Crowninshield commissioned Graham to assemble an African art collection for him. Graham moved to Mexico in 1936. In 1937, he published SYSTEMS AND DIALECTICS OF ART, stimulating American artists interest in primitive art.

From the description of John D. Graham papers, 1799-1988 (bulk 1890-1961). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 245518408

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Graham, John D., 1881-1961 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Belle Krasne Ribicoff papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Dorothy Dehner papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf John D. Graham notebook and sketchbook Archives of American Art
creatorOf John D. Graham papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Selections from the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Archives of American Art collection Archives of American Art
creatorOf Chaim Gross papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Ultra Violet papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Belle Krasne Ribicoff papers Archives of American Art
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with Biagio Melaragno Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Louis Kaufman Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Jacob Kainen Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with George McNeil Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Betty Parsons Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Isamu Noguchi Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Lee Krasner Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Esther Dick Gottlieb Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Burliuk, David, 1882-1967. person
associatedWith Davis, Stuart, 1892-1964. person
associatedWith Dehner, Dorothy, 1901- person
associatedWith Gilot, Françoise, 1921- person
associatedWith Gorchov, Ron. person
associatedWith Gorky, Arshile, 1904-1948. person
associatedWith Gottlieb, Esther Dick person
associatedWith Gottlieb, Esther Dick. person
associatedWith Gross, Chaim, 1904-1991. person
associatedWith Kainen, Jacob person
associatedWith Kaufman, Louis, 1905- person
associatedWith Kitaj, R. B. person
associatedWith Krasne Ribicoff, Belle person
associatedWith Krasner, Lee, 1908-1984. person
associatedWith Mayer, Jack. person
associatedWith McNeil, George, 1908-1995, person
associatedWith Noguchi, Isamu, 1904-1988 person
associatedWith Parsons, Betty, person
associatedWith Philadelphia Museum of Art. corporateBody
associatedWith Picasso, Pablo, 1881-1973. person
associatedWith Ribicoff, Belle Krasne, 1924- person
associatedWith Stein, Gertrude, 1874-1946, person
associatedWith Tobey, Mark. person
associatedWith Ultra Violet. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
Russia (Federation)--Kiev
Subject
Antiques
Art
Artists as authors
Authors
Avant-garde (Aesthetics)
Cubism
Expatriate painters
Painters
Painting, Modern
Surrealism
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1887-01-08

Death 1961-06-27

Americans

English

Information

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