Bischoff, who in 1976 told Paul Karlstrom: “I’m still supporting myself by teaching,” had only two one man shows before his first New York show at Staempfli Gallery in 1960, including a 1955 show at the Paul Kantor Gallery in Los Angeles from which nothing sold. In contrast, leading artists in New York benefitted from a booming art market. For example, Willem de Kooning’s 1959 New York show sold out on the first day, bringing in about $150,000 (about $1.2 million dollars today, when adjusted for inflation).
Of course, de Kooning was a sensation, but many other New York artists sold well while California artists struggled. In this situation, decently paying teaching jobs were a rare and precious commodity. When it was rumored in 1955 that David Park had been offered $10,000 per year to teach at UC Berkeley, artist Nathan Oliveira – who at the time was earning $2.50 per hour teaching art 18 hours per week – thought that Park had been given “the opportunity of a lifetime.” As it turns out, Park’s actual starting annual salary was $5,300.00.
Elmer Bischoff Orange Sweater 1955 Oil on canvas 48 ½ in. x 57 in. SFMoMA collections
“The job of the artist is to make the world visible.”
David Park (1911-1960) Boy in Striped Shirt signed and dated ‘Park 59’ (upper left); titled ‘BOY IN STRIPED SHIRT’ (on the overlap) oil on canvas 50 x 36 in. (127 x 91.4 cm.) Painted in 1959. Price realised USD 1,323,750
“You really need faith in yourself to make art and to stand up for what you believe in.” — Elizabeth Peyton
ELIZABETH PEYTON (B. 1965) Liam Gallagher (Glastonbury 1995) signed, titled and dated ‘LIAM GALLAGHER (GLASTONBURY 1995) Elizabeth Peyton 1995’ (on the reverse) oil on panel 22 1/8 x 18 1/8 in. (56.2 x 46 cm.) Painted in 1995. Price realised USD 1,740,000
“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” — Salvador Dali
Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) Naissance de l’ameublement paranoïaque gouache and charcoal on paper 25 1/8 x 19 1/8 in. (63.7 x 48.4 cm.) Executed circa 1937 Price realised: USD 1,095,000
