Robert R. McElroy's Photography Captured the Avant-Garde Happenings of Late 1950s-1960s New York
From 1959 to 1962, Robert R. McElroy served as the chief photographer chronicling New York's avant-garde performance art at locations such as the Reuben Gallery and Judson Memorial Church. Born in Chicago on January 1, 1928, he developed his photographic expertise through military training and a program at Ohio University. He relocated to New York in June 1958, taking a position at The Lionel Friedman Studio before his initial coverage of artists' events at the Reuben Gallery in January 1960, which included Jim Dine and others. Renowned for his striking angles and use of color film, he was invited by Claes Oldenburg to document performances from February to May 1962. McElroy began working for Newsweek on January 1, 1962, and retired in 1990.
Key facts
- Robert R. McElroy was the primary professional photographer of downtown New York happenings from 1959 to 1962.
- He photographed performances at Judson Memorial Church, Reuben Gallery, and Green Gallery.
- McElroy was born in Chicago on January 1, 1928.
- He received military training in the Still and Motion Picture unit and studied at Ohio University under Clarence White, Jr.
- McElroy moved to New York in June 1958 and worked at The Lionel Friedman Studio.
- His first photos of artists' events were at the Reuben Gallery in January 1960.
- McElroy was Claes Oldenburg's favorite photographer and documented The Store and The Ray Gun Theater.
- He worked as a staff photographer at Newsweek from 1962 until his retirement in 1990.
Entities
Artists
- Robert R. McElroy
- Erik La Prade
- Claes Oldenburg
- Jim Dine
- Alan Kaprow
- Robert Whitman
- Lucas Samaras
- Red Grooms
- Pat Passlof
- Tom Wesselmann
- Marcus Ratliff
- Paul Fusco
- I.C. Rapoport
- Chuck Rapoport
- Adger Cowans
- Gordon Parks
- Don Moser
- Patty Muschinski
- Anthony Zerbe
- Don Pasternak
- Anita Reuben
- Renee Reuben
- Pat Sayer
- Ron Galella
- Clarence White, Jr.
Institutions
- Pace Gallery
- Judson Memorial Church
- Reuben Gallery
- Green Gallery
- Lane Technical High School
- Ohio University
- Life
- Paris Match
- Smithsonian Magazine
- Look
- Cooper Union
- Hansa Gallery
- The Lionel Friedman Studio
- Karastan Rugs
- Seagram's Seven
- Newsweek
- Al Roon's health club
- Filmmaker's Cinematheque
- artcritical
Locations
- Chicago
- United States
- New York
- Vienna
- Austria
- Salzburg
- Ohio
- Cincinnati
- Greenwich Village
- Barrow Street
- East 19th Street
- Fourth Avenue
- Tenth Street
- East 2nd Street
- 57th street
- Bleecker Street
- Lower East Side