Wry Man: Tom Burr on Robert Ryman
Artists on Artists Lecture Series
November 3, 2008 
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New York-based artist Tom Burr was born in 1963 in New Haven. Among his recent solo exhibitions are shows at Sculpture Center, New York (2008); the Secession, Vienna (2007); Colin de Land Art, New York (2003); and the Whitney Museum of American Art (2002).
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1930, Robert Ryman attended Tennessee Polytechnic Institute and the George Peabody College for Teachers (1948-49). After serving in the United States Army Reserve Corps from 1950 to 1952, he moved to New York City, intending to pursue a career in jazz by studying with the pianist Lenny Tristano. In 1953, however, Ryman began working as a guard at the Museum of Modern Art, and that same year he was inspired to make his first painting. His first one-person exhibition was held at the Paul Bianchini Gallery, New York, in 1967, and his first show in Europe came the following year at the Galerie Heiner Friedrich, Munich. Ryman's works were represented in Documentas 5 (1972), 6 (1977), and 7 (1982), in Kassel, in the Venice Biennale of 1976, and in the Whitney Biennial of 1987. His first retrospective was organized by the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, in 1974; Dia mounted a show of his works in 1988, and he had a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, in 1993.
Funding
Made possible by a grant from Art for Art's Sake, New York, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, this series, established in 2001, highlights the work of contemporary artists from the perspective of their colleagues and peers, and focuses on artists in Dia's collection and exhibition programs.
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1930, Robert Ryman attended Tennessee Polytechnic Institute and the George Peabody College for Teachers (1948-49). After serving in the United States Army Reserve Corps from 1950 to 1952, he moved to New York City, intending to pursue a career in jazz by studying with the pianist Lenny Tristano. In 1953, however, Ryman began working as a guard at the Museum of Modern Art, and that same year he was inspired to make his first painting. His first one-person exhibition was held at the Paul Bianchini Gallery, New York, in 1967, and his first show in Europe came the following year at the Galerie Heiner Friedrich, Munich. Ryman's works were represented in Documentas 5 (1972), 6 (1977), and 7 (1982), in Kassel, in the Venice Biennale of 1976, and in the Whitney Biennial of 1987. His first retrospective was organized by the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, in 1974; Dia mounted a show of his works in 1988, and he had a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, in 1993.
Funding
Made possible by a grant from Art for Art's Sake, New York, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, this series, established in 2001, highlights the work of contemporary artists from the perspective of their colleagues and peers, and focuses on artists in Dia's collection and exhibition programs.
Event Information
New York-based artist Tom Burr was born in 1963 in New Haven. Among his recent solo exhibitions are shows at Sculpture Center, New York (2008); the Secession, Vienna (2007); Colin de Land Art, New York (2003); and the Whitney Museum of American Art (2002).
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1930, Robert Ryman attended Tennessee Polytechnic Institute and the George Peabody College for Teachers (1948-49). After serving in the United States Army Reserve Corps from 1950 to 1952, he moved
