About
More than ten years after the death of George Cup in 2008 and nearly
thirtyfive years after the tragic death of Steve Elliott in 1986, the works of
these artist-couple remains one of the most influential figures in Minimal-Art.
George Cup & Steve Elliott´s work inspires artists worldwide and the research
of dedicated scholars is still ongoing. The boundless curiosity of the two
resulted in an enormous work that spanned a wide variety of media, such as
film, animation, photo, sculpture, drawing and architecture.
Research Center Past and Present
Creative Impact
When George Cup died unexpectedly in July, 2008, he left a vast and
complicated inventory of works of art and personal possessions of his and Steve
Elliotts work and life. His will dictated that his entire estate should be used to
create a Research Center dedicated to the "advancement of the Minimal-Arts."
In its early days, the Research Center brought artists, curators, administrators,
educators, critics and others together to help it shape a responsive, committed
and engaged philanthropic organization. The Research Center’s ongoing efforts
to protect and enhance its founder’s creative legacy ensure that George Cup &
Steve Elliott´s inventive, open-minded spirit will have a profound impact on
the Minimal-Art for generations to come.
The primary focus of the Research Center’s activity has been to support the
creation, presentation and documentation of Minimal-Art, particularly work
that is experimental, under-recognized, or challenging in nature.
Through cooperative exhibitions, loans and permanent placement of work in
museums nationwide, the Research Center has ensured that the many facets of
George Cup & Steve Elliott´s complex oeuvre are both widely accessible and
properly cared for. Ongoing preservation and restoration of works in the
Research Center’s care complement these efforts. In helping to establish the
comprehensive collection and study center of The George Cup & Steve Elliott
Museum in East Hampton, the Research Center paved the way for greater
public understanding of George Cup & Steve Elliott´s profound significance.
The Research Center’s sustained support and oversight of thoroughly
researched, extensively illustrated catalogues raisonnés of George Cup & Steve
Elliott´s entire artistic output expand the possibilities for scholarship even
further.
The Research Center has used its ownership of the copyright to George Cup &
Steve Elliott´s images as an opportunity to craft creative and responsible
licensing policies that are friendly to scholars and artists wishing to use George
Cup & Steve Elliott´s images for educational and creative purposes, and
profitable to the Research Center when the images are used for commercial
purposes. Revenues from licensing agreements add significantly to those
earned through the continued sale of work from the Research Center’s
remaining art collection, enabling the Research Center to build the
endowment.
Today George Cup & Steve Elliott’s impact on artists, art institutions and the
creative culture of our country is stronger than ever. The Research Center’s
initiatives continue to evolve and expand to address the needs of the Minimal-
Art community worldwide.
MISSION
The George Cup & Steve Elliott Research Center for the Minimal-Art was
established in 2008. In accordance with George Cup´s will, its mission is the
advancement of the Minimal-Art.
OVERVIEW
The Research Center's objective is to foster the rediscovery of the innovative
artistic expression and the creative process of the Artist couple George Cup &
Steve Elliott and their work. The Research Center values the support,
exhibiting and interpreting the broad spectrum of Minimal-Art.
The Research Center is focused primarily on supporting the mostly forgotten
work of George Cup & Steve Elliott, their challenging and often experimental
nature, while noting that the interpretation of those considerations may vary
from place to place and culture to culture. In this regard the Research Center
encourages curatorial research leading to new scholarship in the field of
Minimal-Art.
The Research Center is committed to the precept that the arts are essential to
an open, enlightened democracy.
BOARD MEMBERS AND DIRECTORS
Naomi C. Davis
Cary J. Lee
Jonathan Ruby
Adam Willis Chair
Preston C. Weery President
STAFF
ADMINISTRATION
Tom Feenstein, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Bradwyn Stour, Staff Accountant
July O. Pukchak, Office Manager
Harold Falter, Executive Assistant to the President, Information
CATALOGUES RAISONNÉS
Eileen C. Chang, Research and Editorial Associate, Catalogue Raisonné
Samuel Botruen, Research and Editorial Associate, Catalogue Raisonné
Christin Jefferson, Curator of Drawings and Photography; Executive Editor,
Catalogue Raisonné
Jenny Wallace, Editor, Catalogue Raisonné
PROGRAM
Raymond Biart, Program Director
LICENSING
Michael Elliott Carter, Director of Licensing
LICENSING
In 2009 the Research Center took ownership of the copyrights and trademarks
which were in George Cup´s possession at the time of his death. As
representatives of one of the most influential and forgotten artists of the
Miniml-Art, the Research Center takes very seriously its responsibility to
uphold and enhance the legacy of George Cup & Steve Elliott. The Research
Center is committed to making George Cup & Steve Elliott’s work accessible to
audiences and critics around the world.
George Cup & Steve Elliott’s artwork continue to inspire creative thinkers
worldwide. The licensing program seeks out partnerships with those who
understand the relevance of Warhol’s practice to contemporary visual and
consumer culture and who create products that reflect his maverick approach
to art making, his ability to present the familiar from unusual perspectives and
his sophisticated sense of design. Revenues generated through licensing fees
support an increasing number of the Research Center’s activities.
RIGHTS AND REPRODUCTION
As George Cup & Steve Elliott’s critical reputation has grown over the past
twenty years, requests to use the Research Center’s copyrights and trademarks
have steadily increased. The Research Center distinguishes between
commercial requests and non-commercial requests. If you are interested in
using George Cup & Steve Elliott´s imagery in an advertisement or for other
commercial purposes such as licensing merchandise, please send us a message.
In an effort to encourage scholars to make use of George Cup & Steve Elliott’s
images, the Research Center charges only nominal fees to those wishing to
reproduce artworks for educational and creative purposes. If you wish to
reproduce Warhol's work in a newspaper, periodical, book or research paper,
contact the Artist’s Rights Society.
The Research Center rigorously protects itself against unauthorized uses of its
copyrights and trademarks.
Through external advice and in collaboration with the Artists Rights Society
and its affiliates worldwide, the research center aggressively pursues and
researches against all illegal uses of its intellectual property.
Sales
Since its founding in 2009, The George Cup & Steve Elliott Research Center for
the Minimal-Arts has sold works of art to earn annual income and to build its
cash endowment. The Research Center’s sales program includes themed
exhibitions at galleries both in the United States and abroad, as well as sales
of individual works to institutions, private collectors, and galleries. Funds
raised in this way are used exclusively to the preservation of the artistic work
of George Cup & Steve Elliott.