William Crutchfield at work in his studio, California
Gift of Kenneth Tyler 2002
Photographer: Barbara CRUTCHFIELD

Willliam Crutchfield worked with Kenneth Tyler at both Gemini GEL and Tyler Graphics to create a large body of prints, as well as a series of cast bronze multiples. His favoured mediums—watercolour and drawing—translate well into print form. Crutchfield completed several print series at Gemini in the 1960s informed by the natural world and transportation technology..

In making his bronze multiple series, Crutchfield created sculptural forms out of a series of numbers and the word ‘FLY’. Crutchfield and his wife, Barbara, are also responsible for a significant amount of the candid photography taken at the Tyler studios. Much of this work is held in the National Gallery’s Kenneth Tyler Archive Collection, and can be viewed in the photo archive section of this website.
Emilie Owens

Further reading

Chronology
 

1932
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America

1956
Receives Bachelor of Fine Arts from Herron School of Art, Indianapolis

1960
Receives Masters of Fine Arts from Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana

1961
Receives Fulbright Scholarship for study at State Art Academy, Hamburg, West Germany

1956
First solo exhibition, at Lieber Gallery, Indianapolis

1962–65
Teaches drawing, painting, and design at Herron School of Art, Indianapolis

1965–67
Assistant Professor and Chairman of Foundation Studies at Minneapolis School of Art; completes edition of Buffalo heads at Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, California (1966)

1967
Moves to California; completes editions of Tawny owl at Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles as well as the Vista series (including At the falls, Burning mining town, Clipper ship, Train on bridge) and the Americana Suite (including Clipper ship, Covered wagons, Fire engine, Model T Ford, Narrow gauge train, Old Jenny, Riverboat, Stage coach) Los Angeles

1969
Completes edition of Reticulated giraffe at Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

1970
Artist-in-Residence, Hannover, West Germany

1971
Solo exhibition, at Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, Florida; included in exhibition, Technics and creativity: Gemini G.E.L., Museum of Modern Art, New York City, New York; completes editions of Brown pelican, Snowy owl and Art and technology at Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

1972
Included in exhibition, California prints, Museum of Modern Art, New York City

1973
Selected as guest artist for Skylab II launch, courtesy of NASA, at Cape Canaveral, Florida; William Crutchfield: sage of machine wit, half-hour television special with Jonathan Winters and Vincent Price, KCET, Los Angeles

1977–78
Completes bronze multiples (including Double three, Double five and Fly) as well as editions of Diamond express, Trestle trains, Burial at sea at Tyler Graphics Ltd., Bedford Village, New York

1977
Included in exhibition, Art off the picture press, at Emily Lowe Gallery, Hofstra University, Hampstead, New York; solo exhibition, at Norton Gallery and School of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida

1979
Solo exhibition, at ARCO Center for Visual Arts, Los Angeles

1983
Completed brass sculpture The bravo award for Music Center of Los Angeles

1984
Included in exhibition, Gemini G.E.L.: art and collaboration, at National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

1985
Included in exhibition, A serious look at humor, at Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, California

1988
Awarded California Distinguished Artist, National Association of Art Educators, Los Angeles; awarded Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, Los Angeles

1989
Included in Biennial of São-Paulo, Brazil; Humor in prints: Edward Hamilton collection, Museum of Art, University of Arizona, Tucson; Art influenced by transportation, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, California; public commission, The importance of being a bubble, for the passenger terminal International Airport, Fort Lauderdale

1997
Included in Gemini G.E.L.: celebrating 30 years, at Murray Feldman Gallery, Los Angeles

William Crutchfield currently lives and works in San Pedro, California

Barbara Delano © Tyler Graphics Ltd.
This chronology provides an overview of selected biographical information, major solo and group exhibitions held within the artist's own lifetime.

Further information will be added to this site as the National Gallery proceeds with its research and documentation.

Last updated May 2013