Henry Geldzahler facts for kids

Henry Geldzahler (born July 9, 1935 – died August 16, 1994) was an important American art expert. He was born in Belgium. Henry was known for being a curator of contemporary art, which means he helped choose and organize art for museums. He also studied and wrote about modern art.

He is most famous for his work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He also served as the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City. Henry was very connected to the art world and was friends with many famous artists of his time. People described him as a very influential person in the art world.

Early Life and Education

Henry Geldzahler was born in Antwerp, Belgium. His family moved to the United States in 1940. He went to Yale University and graduated in 1957. After Yale, he studied art history at Harvard University before starting his career.

A Career in Art

Henry Geldzahler joined the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1960. He became the Curator for American Art. Later, he became the very first Curator for 20th Century Art at the museum. This meant he was in charge of art from the 1900s.

Some of his closest friends were famous artists like Andy Warhol and David Hockney.

The Big Art Show of 1969

One of Henry's most famous achievements at the Met was a huge art show in 1969. It was called New York Painting and Sculpture: 1940-1970. This show was special because it was the first time the museum had a major exhibition of modern American art. It helped celebrate the museum's 100th birthday.

The exhibition featured 408 artworks by 43 different artists. Some of the famous artists included Jackson Pollock, Frank Stella, Jasper Johns, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and Robert Rauschenberg. Henry chose these artists because their work was getting a lot of attention and changing the art world.

Other Important Roles

In 1966, Henry helped choose the American artists for the Venice Biennale. This is a very important international art exhibition.

He also took a break from the Met to lead the visual arts program for the National Endowment for the Arts. Here, he started a program to help museums buy art made by living American artists.

In 1978, Henry left the Met. He then became the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City. This job meant he was in charge of supporting arts and culture in the city. He also spent a lot of time supporting important community causes.

After his time in New York City government, he continued to write about art. He also worked as an independent curator for other art spaces like P.S. 1.

Writings

Henry Geldzahler wrote several books and catalogs about art. Some of his works include:

• Catalog of New York Painting and Sculpture: 1940-1970 (1969)
• American Painting in the 20th Century (1965)
• Making It New: Essays, Interviews, and Talks (1996)

Later Life and Legacy

Henry Geldzahler passed away on August 16, 1994, at his home in Southampton, New York. He was 59 years old. He is buried in Green River Cemetery in Springs, New York.

Depictions in Art and Film

Henry Geldzahler was a popular subject for artists. He was featured in portraits by many of his artist friends, including a famous double portrait by David Hockney. Other artists like Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Alice Neel, and George Segal also painted or sculpted him. David Hockney once said that Henry didn't need mirrors because so many artists made portraits of him!

He also appeared in films:

• He was the subject of a documentary film called Who Gets to Call It Art? (2006).
• He was in an Andy Warhol movie called Henry Geldzahler (1964). In this silent, black-and-white film, he just smokes a cigar for 97 minutes!
• He appeared as himself in the 1974 David Hockney movie, A Bigger Splash.