Chronology

by Brent Foster Jones

Black and white photo of a man in a suit standing beside two children outdoors, with an old-fashioned car in the background.
A beverage with ice in a glass on a dark surface
A solid pink circle on a white background.

1930s

Paul Harris is born on November 5 in Orlando, Florida to Dorothy Paul, a homemaker, and Julian Harris, His father, Julian, was an orange broker…

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Empty white square with a small orange dot in the top right corner.
Solid pink circle on a plain background

1940s

In 1943, his stepmother and her sister would take him from the Orlando orange groves to Pacific Palisades, California, where he attended classes at the Chouinard School of Art

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A black and white photograph of three people standing outdoors in a park-like setting, with trees and a palm tree in the background. The group includes two women in vintage dresses and an older woman in the middle, all smiling.
A red traffic light with a white pedestrian crossing sign underneath.
Pink circular object against a light background.

1950s

Returns to the University of New Mexico. Receives B.A. in Fine Arts. Receives his M.A. in Painting and Sculpture at the University of New Mexico.

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Collection of nine art masks or sculptures mounted on a plain wall, varying in shape, size, and artistic style.
A sculpture of a human face made from crumpled paper and other materials with an expression of surprise or shock against a dark background.

Begins teaching at San Francisco Art Institute, where, between Spring 1964 and Spring 1966, he will teach alongside Jay DeFeo (1929–1989), Richard Diebenkorn, Stephen deStabler (1933–2011), Frank Lobdell (1921–2013), Ron Nagle (b. 1939), Manuel Neri (1930–2021), and others.

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A sauna with wooden walls, benches, and a large window showing a snowy outdoor scene.
Solid pink circle on a white background
A black and white sculpture of a woman with her head bent forward, wrapped in a floral patterned fabric, holding a large bundle of round objects close to her face, against a plain background.

1960s

A person with curly hair looks through a partially opened door or panel, peering inside with a serious expression.
A person sitting on a bench outside in front of greenery, wearing a white shirt and dark pants.
Solid pink circle on a plain background

1970s

Harris establishes Wrongtree Press with Dorothy Schmidt. Publishes Torso, a cloth bound book with text by Dorothy Schmidt and lithographs by Harris.

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Empty white background
Plain pink circle with no specific details.

1980s

Paul Harris: Still Life is on view at the Stanford University Museum of Art in Palo Alto, California from October 28, 1982 to January 2, 1983.

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Handwritten letter addressed to Paul, dated 1-25, explaining that the sender enjoyed the show and didn't mind the photos, and inviting him to visit. The lower part of the letter includes the name 'Dikes' and the words 'FULLER GOLDEN GALLERY' in red text, with an address on Grant Avenue, San Francisco.
A black, irregularly shaped object resembling a small sculpture or artifact, placed on a white surface.
An artist in a workshop shaping a large sculpture on a table. The workshop has various tools and sculptures on the walls and shelves.
A cluttered desk with a computer monitor, keyboard, mouse, papers, and various office supplies.
A pink circle on a plain background.

1990s

Receives solo exhibitions of sculptures and drawings at the Bolinas Museum in Bo­linas, California, on view May 8 to July 11.

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Black abstract sculpture on a pedestal in an art gallery with two colorful abstract paintings on a white wall behind it.
A close-up of a person holding a spatula with fried eggs in a skillet.
Pink circle

2000s

Paul Harris: Some Works is on view at Fine Arts Gallery, College of Marin, Performing Arts Building, Kentfield Campus from October 5 to November 5.

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Empty blue cup on a white surface with a spoon beside it
Blank pink circle with a transparent background.

2010s

Dies in Bozeman, Montana on Mother’s day, Sunday, May 13

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Profile of an elderly man with a beard, wearing a cowboy hat and a puffy jacket, outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

“With a career spanning most of the twentieth century, Paul Harris (1925-2018) evaded definition materially, thematically, and aesthetically as he confidently forged his own path in art and life.”

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