Archives of American Art
Robin Tewes papers
Tewes, Robin
AAA.tewerobi
Archival Resource Key
8.4 Linear feet
1950-2016
The papers of painter and educator Robin Tewes measure 8.4 linear feet and date from 1950-2016. The collection documents the life of a veteran New York artist, active in artist run galleries, such as Fifth Street Gallery, and in artists' organizations. Among the papers are biographical material, correspondence, nine notebooks, project files, teaching files, personal business records, printed material, photographic material, artwork, nine sketchbooks, and a few artifacts.
Collection is in English
Scope and Contents
The papers of painter and educator Robin Tewes measure 8.4 linear feet and date from 1950-2016. The collection documents the life of a veteran New York artist, active in artist run galleries, such as Fifth Street Gallery, and in artists' organizations. Among the papers are biographical material, correspondence, nine notebooks, project files, teaching files, personal business records, printed material, photographic material, artwork, nine sketchbooks, and a few artifacts.
Notable correspondents include Tewes' longtime friend and writer Beverly Donofrio, as well as Andrea Belag, Vija Celmins, Petah Coyne, Ilona Granet, Mark Innerst, Joyce Kozloff, Ruth Marten, Mark Tansey, Marcia Tucker, Martha Wilson, and Nina Yankowitz.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Terms of 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.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 11 series.
Missing Title
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1950-2012 (0.3 linear feet; Box 1)
- Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1970-2016 (0.9 linear feet; Box 1-2)
- Series 3: Notebooks, 2007-2015 (0.4 linear feet; Box 2)
- Series 4: Project Files, circa 1975-2015 (1.6 linear feet; Box 2-3, OV 10-11)
- Series 5: Teaching Files, 1997-2015 (0.4 linear feet; Box 3-4)
- Series 6: Personal Business Records, circa 1975-2010 (0.2 linear feet; Box 4)
- Series 7: Printed Material, circa 1970-2015 (2.5 linear feet; Box 4-6, OV 12)
- Series 8: Photographic Material, circa 1958-2015 (0.6 linear feet; Box 7, OV 13; 332 Megabytes; ER01)
- Series 9: Artwork, circa 1950-2015 (0.7 linear feet; Box 7, OV 14-15)
- Series 10: Sketchbooks, circa 1984-2010 (0.6 linear feet; Box 8-9)
- Series 11: Artifacts, circa 2000, circa 2009 (0.2 linear feet; Box 9)
Biographical / Historical
Robin Tewes (1950- ) is a New York painter and educator. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Tewes graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1968 and received her BFA from Hunter College in 1978. Tewes was an original member of P.S. 122 Painting Association and founded the Fifth Street Gallery which operated on the Lower East Side in the late 1970s. Tewes has taught at several colleges and universities around New York City including Bard College, Hunter College, Pace University, Parsons the New School for Design, and the School of Visual Arts. She has been included in numerous exhibitions, both domestically and internationally.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Archives of American Art in 2016 by Robin Tewes.
Preferred Citation
Robin Tewes papers, 1950-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Hilary Price in 2017.
Art -- Study and teaching
Educators -- New York (State) -- New York
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
Photographs
Sketchbooks
Belag, Andrea
Celmins, Vija, 1938-
Coyne, Petah
Donofrio, Beverly
Innerst, Mark, 1957-
Kozloff, Joyce
Marten, Ruth
Tansey, Mark, 1949-
Tucker, Marcia
Wilson, Martha, 1947-
Yankowitz, Nina
Biographical Material
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
0.3 Linear feet
Box 1
1950-2012
Scope and Contents
Biographical material dates from 1950-2012 and includes addresses, an astrological reading, certificates, childhood artwork and writings, diplomas and school records, family clippings, a lease to Fifth Street Gallery, marriage and birth announcements, and a few writings by Tewes and about Tewes. Tewes' writings mostly date from her time as a student at Hunter College, but there are a few artist statements as well.
Address Books and Mailing Lists
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2005
1
1
Artist Certification, City of New York
Archival Resource Key
1986
1
2
Astrology Reading
Archival Resource Key
1985
1
3
Birth Certificate
Archival Resource Key
1950
1
4
Childhood Art and Writing
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950-1972
1
5
Diplomas, Report Cards, School Records
Archival Resource Key
1957-2012
1
6
Family Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1943
2002
1
7
Lease
Archival Resource Key
1976-1979
1
8
Marriage and Birth Announcements
Archival Resource Key
1990
1983
1
9
Writings
Archival Resource Key
1962-2009
1
10
Writings about Tewes
Archival Resource Key
1981-2007
1
11
Correspondence
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
0.9 Linear feet
Box 1-2
circa 1970-2016
Scope and Contents
Correspondence dates from circa 1970-2016 and includes both personal and professional correspondence. Many letters exchanged between Tewes and her family capture details of her early life, especially reflections from trips abroad. There are also many detailed letters from Tewes' longtime friend, the writer Beverly Donofrio. Notes and personalized exhibition announcements from artists are also found here and include Andrea Belag, Vija Celmins, Petah Coyne, Ilona Granet, Mark Innerst, Joyce Kozloff, Ruth Marten, Mark Tansey, Marcia Tucker, Martha Wilson, and Nina Yankowitz. Professional correspondence is with galleries, museums, and various art organizations regarding exhibitions, benefits, and residencies.
A, General
Archival Resource Key
1981-2006
1
12
B, General
Archival Resource Key
1981-2009
1
13
Coyne, Petah
Archival Resource Key
circa 1985-1994
1
14
C, General
Archival Resource Key
1981-2015
1
15
Donofrio, Beverly
Archival Resource Key
1990-2004
1
16
D, General
Archival Resource Key
1980-2005
1
17
E, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990-2007
1
18
Franklin Furnace
Archival Resource Key
1981-2015
1
19
F, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990-2008
1
20
Gifts, Auctions
Archival Resource Key
1980s-2010s
1
21
Gund, Agnes
Archival Resource Key
1998-2008
1
22
G, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2009
1
23
H, General
Archival Resource Key
1983-2008
1
24
I-J, General
Archival Resource Key
1983-1992
1
25
K, General
Archival Resource Key
1993-2010
1
26
L, General
Archival Resource Key
1983-2007
1
27
M, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990-2008
1
28
N, General
Archival Resource Key
1988-2014
1
29
O, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 2000-2007
1
30
Pettibone, Nancy (Becker) and Richard
Archival Resource Key
1994-2013
1
31
P, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2010
1
32
Recommendations
Archival Resource Key
circa 2000-2012
1
33
Q-R, General
Archival Resource Key
1982-2013
1
34
S, General
Archival Resource Key
1986-2015
1
35
Tewes Family
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970-2010
1
36
Tewes Family
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970-2010
2
1
T, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2009
2
2
U-V, General
Archival Resource Key
2006
circa 1995
2
3
John Weber Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1994-1998
2
4
W, General
Archival Resource Key
1983-2016
2
5
Y-Z, General
Archival Resource Key
1991-2012
2
6
Holiday and Greeting Cards
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2010
2
7
Postcards
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2010
2
8
Outgoing Letters
Archival Resource Key
1980-2004
2
9
Notebooks
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Box 2
2007-2015
Scope and Contents
Nine notebooks date from 2007-2015 and include scattered notes, lists, doodles, sketchbooks, reflections, travel itineraries, names, and addresses.
Notebook, "Upstate Mostly"
Archival Resource Key
2007
2
10
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
2008
2
11
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
2008-2009
2
12
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
2010
2
13
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
2013
2
14
Notebook, [Substitute Teacher]
Archival Resource Key
2013
2
14
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
2013-2014
2
15
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
2014
2
16
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
2014-2015
2
16
Project Files
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
1.6 Linear feet
Box 2-3, OV 10-11
circa 1975-2015
Scope and Contents
Project files date from circa 1975-2015 and include material from a number of personal projects, illustration commissions, and professional activities. Files include proposals and mock-ups for artist books, sketches and logistical details for installations, applications and correspondence relating to grants and residencies, and material relating to the artist run Fifth Street Gallery and Painting Studio 122 (P.S. 122). There are also several files relating to the activities of the Guerrilla Girls, including correspondence, exhibition material, and printed material.
Abbey Mural Workshop
Archival Resource Key
2009
2
17
Bingo Installation Sketch and Proposal
Archival Resource Key
1975-1985
2
18
Scope and Contents
Oversized sketch housed in OV 10
Books
Archival Resource Key
2
"4 Rooms, 4 Stories" Proposal
Archival Resource Key
2003
2
19
"The Painting She Found" Proposal
Archival Resource Key
circa 1985
2
20
ROOMS
Archival Resource Key
1997
2
21
Other Proposals
Archival Resource Key
2002-2004
2
22
Fifth Street Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1977-1980
2
23-25
Grants and Residencies
Archival Resource Key
1989-2011
3
1
Guerrilla Girls
Archival Resource Key
3
Announcements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1985-2015
3
2
Artifacts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2000
3
3
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1985-2015
3
4
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1987-1991
3
5
Getty Research Institute
Archival Resource Key
2006-2008
3
6
Letters
Archival Resource Key
circa 1985-2008
3
7
Mailing List
Archival Resource Key
circa 1985-2005
3
8
Periodicals
Archival Resource Key
circa 1985-1995
3
9
Posters and Postcards
Archival Resource Key
1985-2015
3
10
Scope and Contents
Oversized Poster housed in OV 11
Statements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1985-2000
3
11
Illustrations for Book Jackets
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980
3
12
Illustrations for Medical Publications
Archival Resource Key
1985-1990
3
13
Painting Space 122 Association (P.S. 122)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1975-2010
3
14
Rainbow Tent Project, "Something Lost/Something Gained"
Archival Resource Key
1992-1993
3
15
Oversized Bingo Installation Sketch from Box 2, Folder 18
Archival Resource Key
OV 10
Oversized Guerrilla Girls Poster from Box 3, Folder 10
Archival Resource Key
OV 11
Teaching Files
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Box 3-4
1997-2015
Scope and Contents
Teaching files date from 1997-2015 and include correspondence, syllabi, assignments, and student evaluations from Tewes' positions at Bard College, Hunter College, Pace University, and a few others school where Tewes' taught as adjunct professor. While teaching at Pace University, Tewes earned a graduate degree in teaching. Material relating to the degree and her student teaching work is included here.
Bard College
Archival Resource Key
1997-2000
3
16
Hunter College
Archival Resource Key
2009-2011
4
1
Pace University
Archival Resource Key
2005-2015
4
2-3
Student Teaching and Certification
Archival Resource Key
2010-2012
4
4-5
Other Schools
Archival Resource Key
1997-2008
4
6
Personal Business Records
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 4
circa 1975-2010
Scope and Contents
Personal business records date from circa 1975-2010 and consist of a card index of Tewes' work detailing the title, size, date, and price of paintings alongside a photographic slide. Price lists, inventories, agreements, and one folder relating to her father's business are also found here.
Artwork Card Index
Archival Resource Key
1980s
4
7
Business with Father, John Tewes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995-2000
4
8
Price Lists, Inventories, Agreements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1975-2010
4
9
Printed Material
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
2.5 Linear feet
Box 4-6, OV 12
circa 1970-2015
Scope and Contents
Printed material dates from circa 1970-2015 and includes announcements, books by Tewes, books featuring illustrations by Tewes, exhibition catalogs, and other published material documenting Tewes' career and the many exhibitions featuring her work. There are also several folders of source material consisting of clippings from magazines which Tewes had arranged by subjects including backgrounds, faces, presidents, rooms, and textures.
Announcements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970-2015
4
10-13
Scope and Contents
Oversized Announcements from 2000s housed in OV 12
Books by Tewes
Archival Resource Key
1994-1995
1982
4
14
Books and Journals featuring Tewes' Illustrations
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970-2015
5
1-5
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2010
5
6-9
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1980s-1990s
5
10-11
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990-2012
6
1-4
Other Publications
Archival Resource Key
1976-2008
6
5-6
Source Material
Archival Resource Key
1970s-1980s
6
7-12
Oversized Announcements from Box 4, Folder 13
Archival Resource Key
OV 12
Photographic Material
Series 8
Archival Resource Key
332 Megabytes
ER01
0.6 Linear feet
Box 7, OV 13
circa 1958-2015
Scope and Contents
Photographic material dates from circa 1958-2015 and includes photographs of Tewes at all stages of life with family, friends, and in her studio. Several decades of Tewes' artworks are also documented here, as well as several exhibition installations. Formats include black and white and color photographic prints, digital photographs, negatives, transparencies, and slides.
Tewes, Family, and Friends
Archival Resource Key
circa 1958-2015
7
1-2
Scope and Contents
Oversized photographs of Tewes housed in OV 13
Artwork
Archival Resource Key
7
Prints
Archival Resource Key
1970s-1990s
7
3
Digital Photographs
Archival Resource Key
332 Megabytes
119 computer files
2005-2006
ER01
Negatives and Transparencies
Archival Resource Key
1970s-1990s
7
5
Slides
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970-2010
7
6-7
Exhibitions
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-1995
7
8
Oversized Photos of Tewes from Box 7, Folder 1
Archival Resource Key
OV 13
Artwork
Series 9
Archival Resource Key
0.7 Linear feet
Box 7, OV 14-15
circa 1950-2015
Scope and Contents
Artwork dates from circa 1950-2015 and includes a hand drawn animation made while Tewes was still a high school student, early illustration and design work, several Rorschach inkblot experiments, a folder of collaged traffic related clippings, as well as hundreds of preliminary pencil drawings for paintings. Photographic printouts used as source material are also found in these folders.
Animation from High School
Archival Resource Key
1963
7
9
Early Illustration and Design Work
Archival Resource Key
1969-1972
7
10
Inkblots
Archival Resource Key
circa 1998
7
11
Parking Meter and Traffic Light Collage Series
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950-1955
1979
7
12
Studies and Source Material
Archival Resource Key
7
"Diane"
Archival Resource Key
circa 2005
7
13
"Dylan Marcus"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1991
7
14
"Living Room, Mom"
Archival Resource Key
circa 2000
7
15
"We Be Happy Series"
Archival Resource Key
circa 2010
7
16
Scope and Contents
Oversized studies housed in OV 14
General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1972-2015
7
17-19
Scope and Contents
Oversized studies housed in OV 15
Oversized Studies, "We Be Happy Series" from Box 7, Folder 16
Archival Resource Key
OV 14
Oversized Studies, General from Box 7, Folder 17
Archival Resource Key
OV 15
Sketchbooks
Series 10
Archival Resource Key
0.6 Linear feet
Box 8-9
circa 1984-2010
Scope and Contents
Nine sketchbooks date from circa 1984-2010. Some books are unique artist's books in which Tewes explores a theme throughout, while others are more typical sketchbooks filled with preliminary sketches and ideas. The three sketchbooks in Box 9 all use the Rorschach inkblot as the basis for additional drawing. Media includes pencil, paint, collage, pen, ink, tape, and cut paper.
Sketchbook
Archival Resource Key
circa 1984
8
1
Sketchbook
Archival Resource Key
1987-2015
8
2
Sketchbook, "Dream Fragments"
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
8
3
Sketchbook, "Repeated Dream Fragments"
Archival Resource Key
1992-1993
8
4
Sketchbook
Archival Resource Key
2004-2005
8
5
Sketchbook, "Dreams, Sketches, and Ideas for Paintings"
Archival Resource Key
2005-2007
8
6
Sketchbook, "Portraits, Demons, and Angels"
Archival Resource Key
2007
9
1
Sketchbook, "Faces and Dreams"
Archival Resource Key
2009
9
2
Sketchbook, "Red, White, Blue, Black World"
Archival Resource Key
2010
9
3
Artifacts
Series 11
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 9
circa 2009
circa 2000
Scope and Contents
Artifacts contain a dress worn by Tewes' mother while posing for a painting in 2009 and five small paintbrushes dating from circa 2000.
Dress
Archival Resource Key
circa 2009
9
4
Paintbrushes
Archival Resource Key
circa 2000
9
5