TEL: 415.441.8680
Born April 13, 1930
Hollister, California (San Benito County)
1954-1958 Attended California School of Fine Arts
Scholarship and G.I. Bill
Bachelor’s of Fine Arts 1958
San Francisco, California
1951-1953 U.S. Army Medical Corp & Intelligence
223rd Regimental Headquarters, 40th Division, Korea
1950-1951 Attended California School of Fine Arts (S.F. Art Institute)
San Francisco, California
1948 Received scholarship to California School of Fine Arts
(S.F. Art Institute) San Francisco, California
SCHOOLING
I studied at the California School of Fine Arts, later to become the San Francisco Art Institute in San Francisco, California.
I was able to attend on scholarships and on the G.I. Bill after being drafted during the Korean War.
I served in the United States Army from October 1951 to August 1953.
1954-1958 Design Instructors:Dorr Bothwell
Painting Instructors:Roger Barr, Elmer Bischoff, Ralph DuCasse and Ralph Putzker
Color and Composition Instructors: Jean Varda
Drawing Instructors: Ralph DuCasse, Roger Barr, Nathan Oliviera and Sonia Gechtoff
Printmaking / Lithography Instructors: James Bud Dixon and Nathan Oliviera
Sculpture Instructors: Robert Howard, Tom Hardy and Keith Monroe
1950-1951 Color and Composition Instructors: Elmer Bischoff and Jack Davis
Drawing Instructors: Hassel Smith, Ralph Johnson and Edward Corbett
Aesthetics Instructors: David Park
EXHIBITIONS
2013 Sixty Year Retrospective, Solo Show, Art Zone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2012 Blossoms & Roots, Group Show, Art Zone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
The Dynamics of Painters, Group Show, Art Zone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2011 Pop'd From the Panel, Group Show, Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
A History: 1946-2010 José Ramón Lerma, Solo Show, Craft and Cultural Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA
Drawings & Prints by Bay Area Artists, Group Show, Art Zone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2010 The Seduction of Duchamp, Bay Area Artists’ Response, Group Show,
Art Museum of Los Gatos, Los Gatos, CA
Rehistoricizing Abstract Expressionism in the SF Bay Area, 1950s-1960s, Group Show,
The Luggage Store, San Francisco, CA
Re-frame: Making Sense of Waste, Group Show, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Un-titled, Group Show, Art Zone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
The Seduction of Duchamp, Bay Area Artists’ Response, Group Show,
ArtZone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2009 The Seduction of Duchamp, Group Show, SlaughterhouseSpace, Healdsburg, CA
A Survey of Works 1947-Present, Solo Show, Art Zone 461 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1958 East / West Abstraction Art Talk, Toganon Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2008 A Grand Opening Affair, A Benefit for Visual Aids, Group Show, Art Zone 461, San Francisco, CA
Bailando Con La Muerta / Dancing With Death, Encantada Gallery of Fine Arts, New York, NY
Intersection 2008 Annual Fundraising Art Auction, Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Banned and Recovered, African American Museum and Library, Oakland, CA
2005 While Pollock Was Sleeping: Bay Area Abstract Expressionism from the Blair Collection,
Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2003 The Beat Generation & Beyond, Group Show, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA
An Exhibition and Silent Auction to Benefit ProArts, Group Show, ProArts Gallery, Oakland, CA
2002 One Person Show, paintings, Supervisor Matt Gonzales’s office, City Hall, San Francisco CA
2000 Retrospective: 1954-2000, Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
The Dark Madonna, Group Exhibition, Thatcher Gallery, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
1999 First, I Dream, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Group Exhibit, Thatcher Gallery,
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
1997 Abstract Works, One Person Show, Art Beat Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Symbolist/Abstract Contemporary Collection, SOMAR Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1997-2003 Several Exhibitions, Encantada Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1996 Day of the Dead altar, Recuerdos de Maria Cruz Lerma de Chapa, Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
Exhibit in the Hispanic Room, The New Main Library, San Francisco, CA
Chicago Beat, One Person Show, The Work and Collection of Abstract Expressionist Paintings,
The Laney College Art Gallery, Oakland, CA
Group Show, Session at Catherine Clark Gallery, San Francisco, CA
One Person Show, La Esperanza Salon of the Arts, Dublin, CA
One Person Exhibition, Constructions/Collages,
What’s For Dessert, San Francisco, CA
1995 A Devotional Legacy: 1972-1995, Group Show, Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
An Altar for My Mother, Dia de los Muertos, Weigand Gallery College of Notre Dame, Belmont, CA
A Defiant Legacy 1970-1995, Group Exhibition, Galeria de la Raza 25th Anniversary,
Center for the Arts, Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA
Not Just For Cowboys, Three Person Exhibit, Oakland Museum, The Collector’s Gallery, Oakland, CA
El Corazon, Galeria de la Raza Fund Raiser, San Francisco, CA
Cultural Expressions, Group Exhibition, Cooper, White and Cooper, San Francisco, CA
1994 An Altar for My Father, Dia de los Muertos, June Steingart Gallery, Laney College, Oakland, CA
Dedicated in Honor of Cesar E. Chavez, Hayward Public Library, Hayward, CA
One Man Show, EBMUD Gallery, Oakland, CA
First Front: Vanguard of the Chicano Movement, Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
Una Celebracion! Ten Contemporary Lation Artists, Gallery Concord, Concord, California
A Tribute to Cesar Chavez, Studio 24, San Francisco, CA
El Corazon del Barrio, Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA
Festivo Latino, The Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
1993 Wall Piece for My Mother, Sra. Casas Marquez de Lerma, Dia de los Muertos,
La Raza Graphics, San Francisco, CA
Altar to Cantinflas, Dia de los Muertos, commissioned by the Galeria, Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
One Man Show, Corona Bar and Grill / Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
Group Exhibition, Sol Y Luna / Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
Honor the Source- Constructions, Collages, and Paintings, La Raza Graphics Center, San Francisco, CA
Early Oils from the 1950s, Mervyn’s What’s For Dessert, San Francisco, CA
1992 To My Sister Maria Cruz Lerma Chapa, Day of the Dead, La Raza Graphics, San Francisco, CA
Small Oil Paintings from the 1970s, Manuelita’s Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Group Show, Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
1991 Something Small for the Wall, Group Show, SOMAR Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Homage to Tamayo altar, Day of the Dead Exhibition, La Raza Graphics, San Francisco, CA
Guerra*Paz*Arte/Group Show, Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
The Spatsa Gallery Catalogue, Natsoulas / Novelozo Gallery, Davis, CA
1990 Northern California Figuration, Natsoulas / Novelozo Gallery, Davis, CA
Tenth Annual Exhibition, Group Show, Gallery Sanchez, San Francisco, CA
Exhibition Flag Catalogue, Walter McBean Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
Mouse and Friends, Acrylics and Collage Paintings, Manuelita’s Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1989 Day of the Dead Exhibition, Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA
Group Show, Juror’s Choice and Prize, Gallery Sanchez, San Francisco, CA
1988 Day of the Dead Exhibition, Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA
Cajas and Constructions from 1986-1988, Manuelita’s Gallery, San Francisco, CA
La Cruz: Spiritual Source, Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
1987 Day of the Dead Exhibition, Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA
The Early Years- 1948-1954, Manuelita’s Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1984 Collages, Sacramento City College, Gregory Kondos Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1982 Cajas y Otras Cosas (Boxes and Other Things), Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
1979 Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
San Antonio Museum Association, San Antonio, TX
Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY
1978 Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Blaffer Gallery, University of Houston, Houston, TX
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, TX
Museum of Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
1977 Tuscon Museum of Arts, Tuscon, AZ
Raices Antigues*Visiones Nuevas, Ancient Roots*New Visions Catalogue,
National Collection of Fine Arts, Fondo del Sol, Smithsonian Institute, Washigton, D.C.
1975 Everett Public Library, Everett, Washington
Wing Luke Memorial Museum, Seattle, WA
Bicentennial Exhibition of Third World Art, Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
1974 Museum of Modern Art Catalogue, San Francisco, CA
Third World Painting/Sculpture Exhibit, San Francisco, CA
1973 27th Annual San Francisco Art Festival, San Francisco, CA
1969 Group Show, The Columbus Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1967 Retrospective (1947-67), One Man Show, Peninsula Gallery, Menlo Park, CA
1965 Group Show, New Mission Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1964 Group Show, Stuart Gallery, New York, NY
1963 Traveling Group Show from Green Gallery, Ohio Wesleyan College, Prix Debris, Delaware, Ohio
Group Show, Hobbs Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1960-1968 Annual One Man Show, Green Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1959 One Man Show, Russian Hill Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1958 One Man Show, Spatsa Gallery, San Francisco, CA
9th Annual Exhibition of Oil and Sculpture, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
Two Man Show, L’Envoi Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1957 One Man Show, The Cellar, San Francisco, CA
Group Show, Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA
One Man Show, East-West Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1956 Group Show, 6 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1955 One Man Show, Inter Players Theater Gallery, Bella Union Theater, Kearny St., San Francisco, CA
1949 Southern Monterey County Fair, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize, King City, CA
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Apr 13,2004 Resolution honoring the artistic contribution of Jose Ramon Lerma for his outstanding contribution to
Bay Area Abstract expressionism and his continuing work as a pioneer in the arts.
City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
1997-2000 Board of Directors member, Intersection for the Arts
May 4,1997 Sunday on 7, Channel 7 ABC, Rose Guilbaut, interview with artist
Dec 5, 1996 Chicano Beat, Lecture and Video presentation of life and work, San Francisco Main Library
Oct 12,1996 Beat Generation Exhibit, Panel Member, De Young Museum, San Francisco, CA
1994 Award, Cinco de Mayo, Distinguished Artistic contribution to the Latino Community, Senior Citizen Award,
Center for the Arts at Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA
1993-1996 Volunteer at the Galeria de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
1985-1986 Quilt Project exhibited at the Monterey Aquarium, Monterey, CA
Sept 2,1983 Participant with 30 other artists in the Marine Mammal Quilt Project. A project to raise funds
for the California Marine Mammal Center, Fort Cronkhite, CA
Mar 10,1976 Lecture at Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz, CA
1967-1972 Slides of Flag Collages used in Ray and Joan Anderson’s “Holy See Light Show”,
Winterland, San Francisco, CA
Jul 3, 1965 Participant in San Francisco’s first Happening, Green Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1958-1960 A founding member of the Russian Hill Gallery, San Francisco, CA
CRITICAL REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS
2010 San Francisco Chronicle
2009 Oakland Tribune
Art News Knowledge
1996 City Revolt Magazine
Laney Tower Newspaper (Laney College)
Artweek, review of “Chicano Beat” exhibit
1995 San Francisco Examiner, article pertaining to Dia de los Muertos
1993 Art-Talk (Scottsdale, Arizona)
San Francisco Examiner, article pertaining to Dia de los Muertos
1992 Artweek
1991 Artweek
1988 Noe Valley News
1984 Westart
Sacramento City College Express
Suttertown News
1978 Nuestro Magazine
El Pazo Times
1977 Americas Magazine
Washington Post
1975 Everett Herald (Washington State)
1974 Artweek
1962 Artforum
1960 San Francisco Examiner
1958-1959 San Francisco Chronicle
Contents Copyright © 2003-2013
JOSE RAMON LERMA
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