Hello!

​

My name is Joseph, and I am reaching out as a research assistant with a question regarding the artist Stephen Kaltenbach, who had a solo exhibition called Portrait of My Father Studies at the Artists Contemporary Gallery in Sacramento, CA, in 1974.

 

Stephen Kaltenbach (b. 1940) is an American artist who works in painting, sculpture, conceptual art, writing, and public art. From 1972 to 1979, Kaltenbach set out to make a colossal oil painting entitled Portrait of My Father in a barn without electricity or plumbing near Fresno, CA, while he taught art at UC Davis.

 

Curator and writer Jordan Stein is writing a manuscript that will provide a definitive history of the painting’s production and circulation, including an annotated interview with the artist, set to be published with J&L Books in Fall 2025.

 

Jordan and I learned from Kaltenbach’s CV that before Portrait was shown in (partial) completion at the Crocker Art Museum in 1979, his studies for the painting were exhibited first in an exhibition called Portrait of My Father Studies at the Artists Contemporary Gallery in 1974. 

 

We are curious to learn if you may have any information regarding this 1974 exhibition. We are specifically looking for photographs, exhibition text and ephemera, and curatorial research conducted for the show. It would be great to schedule a call, per your willingness to help with our inquiry.

 

Thank you!

 

Best regards,

Joseph Issac Cohen

joseph0cohen@gmail.com

 

PS - from Marilyn - I found this article online:

https://manettishremmuseum.ucdavis.edu/news/portrait-of-my-father