Archives of American Art
Francis M. Celentano papers
Celentano, Francis, 1928-2016
AAA.celefran
Archival Resource Key
2.7 Linear feet
circa 1939-2020
bulk 1950-2016
The Francis M. Celentano papers measure 2.7 linear feet and date from circa 1939-2020, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1950-2016. The collection documents Celentano's career as an Op painter and sculptor, as well as his time as a student at New York University and as a Fulbright scholar in Rome. Included is biographical material; correspondence; writings; and project files detailing several exhibitions and works of art that Celentano worked on and participated in throughout his career. Also found are printed materials that showcase numerous exhibitions Celentano was in; photographs and transparencies of the artists and his work; and pencil and digital sketches.
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Scope and Contents
The papers of Op artist Francis M. Celentano measure 2.7 linear feet and date from circa 1939-2020, with bulk dates from 1950-2016. Included is biographical material is his birth and death certificates, as well as certificates for his first communion, a scholastic art award, his high school diploma and a resume; correspondence with Celentano's NYU thesis advisor H.W. Janson, and fellow artists Evelyn Hofer and Ivan Schwebel. Also found are letters from museums, galleries, and the Fulbright program. Writings include academic and professional writing projects by Celentano as well as extensive painting and sculpture notes, a diary, and some poetry. Academic writing consists of undergraduate and graduate term papers including a copy of his master's thesis "The Origins and Development of Abstract Expressionism in the United States" (New York University, 1957) and supporting research notes. Project files contain notes, photographic and video materials, proposals, planning documents, correspondence and installation instructions related to specific exhibitions, lectures and individual artworks that Celentano worked on throughout his careeer; printed material consisting of exhibition catalogs, flyers, announcements, and clippings; photographs are of Celentano with his artwork as well as with friends and family and transparencies of works of art; and artwork contains annotated preparatory pencil and digital sketches, and unannotated ink jet print outs of digital paintings.
Biographical / Historical
Francis Celentano (1928-2016) was an art professor and one of the original New York Op artists. Born in the Bronx in 1928, he studied both art and art history as an undergraduate and graduate student at New York University. During his undergraduate program, Celentano took drawing classes with Philip Guston who influenced Celentano's interest in abstract expressionism, which eventually became the topic of his 1957 master's thesis, "The Origins and Development of Abstract Expressionism in the United States." His thesis supervisor was the art historian Horst W. Janson with whom he took several graduate and undergraduate courses. In 1957 after earning his art history master's degree Celentano received a Fulbright Scholarship to study painting in Rome. He returned to New York and continued to paint, and his abstract expressionist style transformed into Op art, a form that uses optical illusions.
Celentano continued living in New York until 1966 when he joined the faculty in the painting department of the School of Art at the University of Washington in Seattle. He taught in the department until retiring in 1993 to dedicate himself back to creating art full time. Over the course of his career Celentano exhibited work in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the country, with a heavy emphasis in New York, Washington, and Oregon. Exhibitions include the Responsive Eye (1965), the Museum of Modern Art; Kinetic and Optical Art Today (1965), Albright-Knox Gallery; a mural installation in the Seattle-Tacoma airport (1972); and Francis Celentano: Form and Color a ten-year retrospective (2010), Hallie Ford Museum of Art. Celentano's work is included in several museum collections such as the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam; the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum in New York and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated in 2020 by Rebecca Celentano, Francis Celentano's widow.
Conditions Governing Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Preferred Citation
Francis M. Celentano papers, circa 1939-2020. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sabine Lipten in 2022.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 7 series.
- Biographical Material, 1939-2020 (0.2 Linear feet Box 1)
- Correspondence, 1957-2007 (0.2 Linear feet Box 1)
- Writings, circa 1941-2016 (0.7 Linear feet Box 1-2)
- Project Files, circa 1973-2013 (0.6 Linear feet Box 2)
- Printed Material, circa 1964-2018 (0.5 Linear feet Box 2-3)
- Photographic Material, circa 1943-2016 (0.3 Linear feet Box 3, OV 5)
- Artwork, circa 1970-2016 (0.2 Linear feet Box 4)
Diaries
Painters -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
Educators -- Washington (State) -- Seattle
Optical art
Biographical Material
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1
1939-2020
Scope and Contents
Biographical material includes Celentano's birth and death certificates, as well as certificates for his first communion, a scholastic art award and his high school diploma. Also included is a resume.
Birth and Death Certificates
Archival Resource Key
1957
2016
1
1
Resume
Archival Resource Key
2020
1
2
First Communion Certificate
Archival Resource Key
1939
1
3
High School Diploma
Archival Resource Key
1947
1
4
Scholastic Art Award Certificate
Archival Resource Key
1947
1
5
Correspondence
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1
1957-2007
Scope and Contents
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically and consist of letters from Celentano's thesis advisor H.W. Janson, fellow artists Evelyn Hofer and Ivan Schwebel. Also found are letters from museums, galleries, and the Fulbright program.
Albright Knox Art Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1968-1969
1
6
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Archival Resource Key
1965-1966
1
7
Fullbright Grant Letters
Archival Resource Key
1957-1958
1
8
Evelyn Hoffer
Archival Resource Key
1959-1962
1
9-10
H.W. Janson
Archival Resource Key
1958
1
11
Ivan Schwebel
Archival Resource Key
1961-1962
1
12
Studio Vista Limited Publishers
Archival Resource Key
1971
1
13
Howard Wise Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1966
2007
1
14
Writings
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
0.7 Linear feet
Box 1-2
circa 1941-2016
Scope and Contents
The Writing series contains academic and professional writing projects by Celentano as well as extensive painting and sculpture notes, a diary, and some poetry. Academic writing includes undergraduate and graduate term papers as well as a copy of his master's thesis "The Origins and Development of Abstract Expressionism in the United States" (New York University, 1957) and supporting research notes. Professional writing projects include artist statements, descriptive lists of artworks, lecture notes, and painting and sculpture notes regarding both specific paintings and sculptures as well as broad techniques and components of his practice. His diary documents his time in Rome as a Fulbright scholar.
Francis Celentano Artist Statements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1954-2012
1
15
Lists of Artwork
Archival Resource Key
circa 2015
1
16
Lecture Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 2000
1
17
Rome Diary
Archival Resource Key
circa 1958-1962
1
18
Bound Collection of Undergraduate Term Papers, New York University
Archival Resource Key
1941-1951
1
19
"Rubens and the School of Raphael" Graduate Seminar report, New York University
Archival Resource Key
1954
1
20
"Drawings as a Correlate of Painting During the Impressionist Period" Graduate Term Paper, New York University
Archival Resource Key
1954
1
21
"Early Phases of Classical and Expressionist Trends in Abstract Painting" Graduate Term Paper, New Yok University
Archival Resource Key
1954
1
22
"Background and Early Trends in American Abstract Expressionism" (Presentation of Research Toward Completion of Masters Thesis Entitled "The Origins of Abstract Expressionism in the United States")
Archival Resource Key
circa 1954-1957
1
23
Master's Thesis Notes
Archival Resource Key
1954-1957
1
24
Master's Thesis Notes
"The Origins of Abstract Expressionism in the United States" Masters Thesis, New York University
Archival Resource Key
1957
1
25
Painting and Sculpture Notes
Archival Resource Key
Helical Spectrum Chromatic Twist Columns
Archival Resource Key
1982-1995
1
26
Flare Columns, Bases and Boxes
Archival Resource Key
1995-1996
1
27
Three Color Overlay
Archival Resource Key
1987
1
28
Pre Serpa Paper Paintings
Archival Resource Key
2001
1
29
Photoshop
Archival Resource Key
2015-2016
1
30
Triangular Overlays
Archival Resource Key
2014-2015
1
31
Scotchcal 220 Vinyl Film Swatches
Archival Resource Key
circa 2013-2015
1
32
Plastic Modules
Archival Resource Key
1984
1
33
Painting Notations
Archival Resource Key
circa 1965-1975
1
34
Serpa Paintings
Archival Resource Key
2001-2002
1
35
Crazy Wave
Archival Resource Key
2012-2013
1
36
Star Columns
Archival Resource Key
circa 1998
1
37
Loco Logos
Archival Resource Key
2007-2010
1
38
Work Panel Layout
Archival Resource Key
circa 1974-1975
2
1
Poetry by Francis Celentano
Archival Resource Key
circa 1962-2011
2
2
Miscellaneous Notes
Archival Resource Key
1951-1952
circa 1989-2013
2
3
Project Files
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.6 Linear feet
Box 2
circa 1973-2013
Scope and Contents
Project files contain notes, photographic material and video, proposals, planning documents, correspondence and installation instructions corresponding to specific exhibitions, lectures and individual artworks that Celentano worked on throughout his careeer.
Iota Painting
Archival Resource Key
1973-1974
2
4
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport Mural
Archival Resource Key
circa 1972
2
5
Curve of Isis in Black and Red Sculpture
Archival Resource Key
1985
2
6
Pendenza Painting
Archival Resource Key
1978-1980
2
7
Diachroma Painting Series
Archival Resource Key
circa 1986-1987
2
8
Diamorphus Painting Series
Archival Resource Key
circa 1976-1977
2
9
Electra Painting Series (made using Targa file format)
Archival Resource Key
1991-1992
2
10
Exana Painting Series
Archival Resource Key
1992-1993
2
11
Spira Paining Series
Archival Resource Key
1988-1989
2
12
Trizazz Painting Series
Archival Resource Key
1989
2
13
Zeta Painting
Archival Resource Key
1986
2
14
Le Crique Painting Series
Archival Resource Key
2003-2004
2
15
Star Sculpture Series
Archival Resource Key
2000-2003
2
16
Xmas Tree Sculpture
Archival Resource Key
2008
2
17
Gemini Painting Series
Archival Resource Key
2010-2013
2
18
Francis Celentano: Form and Color Hallie Ford Museum Retrospective (Nov. 2010-Jan. 2011), Hallie Ford Museum of Art
Archival Resource Key
2010-2011
Includes 2 electronic disks (DVD)
2
19
"Francis Celentano" Whatcom Museum of History and Art Documentary Video and Transcript
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
1992
2
20
Francis Celentano Lecture, Highland Community College
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
1999
2
21
Francis Celentano Star Sculpture Lecture
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
2005
2
22
Printed Material
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Linear feet
Box 2-3
circa 1964-2018
Scope and Contents
Printed material is primarily made up of exhibition catalogs, flyers and announcements documenting individual and group shows Celentano was a part of throughout his career. Also found are newspaper and magazine clippings, informational handouts about paint and a press packet for a group instillation Celentano participated in: A Program to Encourage the Advancement of Environmental Art (1974), at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1964-1995
2018
2
23-25
Exhibition Announcements and Flyers
Archival Resource Key
1966-1998
2015
2
26-27
News and Magazine Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1968-2005
2016
3
1
A Program to Encourage the Advancement of Environmental Art (1974), Lincoln Center Instillation Press Package
Archival Resource Key
1974
3
2
Golden brand Paint Informational Materials
Archival Resource Key
circa 2004
3
3
Miscellaneous Printed Material
Archival Resource Key
circa 1969-1982
3
4
Photographic Material
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
0.3 Linear feet
Box 3, OV 5
circa 1943-2016
Scope and Contents
Photographic material contains black and white photographs of Celentano in different settings: with friends and family, working on and posing with his artwork. There are also selected transparencies of paintings that Celentano sent as part of his Fulbright application. Other photographic material includes photographs of his artwork and the artwork of others Celentano was using in his thesis research.
Artwork
Archival Resource Key
1966
1988
3
5
Francis Celentano with Artwork
Archival Resource Key
circa 1966-2007
3
6
Francis Celentano Working
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s
2003
3
7
Francis Celentano Working, Oversized
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s
2003
5
1
Francis Celentano, Family and Friends
Archival Resource Key
1953-1998
2016
3
8
Other Artists' Artwork for Thesis Research
Archival Resource Key
circa 1943-1952
3
9
Transparencies of Paintings Submitted to the Fulbright Program's Grant Comittee
Archival Resource Key
1954-1956
3
10-11
Artwork
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 4
circa 1970-2016
Scope and Contents
The Artwork series contains annotated preparatory pencil and digital sketches and inkjet print outs of digital paintings.
Epsilon, Theta, Omicron Painting Sketches
Archival Resource Key
1974-1976
4
1
Le Cirque Painting Sketches
Archival Resource Key
2004-2005
4
2
Preparatory Pencil Sketches
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970-2011
4
3
Preparatory Digital Sketches
Archival Resource Key
circa 2011-2016
4
4-5
Digital Paintings
Archival Resource Key
2007-2010
4
6