Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America

Graham, John, 1887-1961 print view role Collector Artist Consultant dates 1887-1961 city New York City state NY other cities Mexico City, Mexico; Kiev, Russia; sex M historical notes Collector and painter. Born Ivan Gratsianovitch Dombrovski in Kiev, Russia. His birthday is listed as 27 December, 1886 but after 1917 Russia adopted the Gregorian calendar changing the date to 7 January, 1887. He moved to New York in 1920, changing his name to John Dabrowsky Graham. He was a central figure among American avant-garde artists, especially from the late 1920's - 1940's. His understanding of cubism and surrealism made him a link to the European art scene. He helped Stuart Davis, Lee Krasner, William de Kooning, Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock, and David Smith gain recognition and critical acclaim. His interest in horses, Jungian psychology, yoga, and the occult appear as themes in his work. Graham collected African art which he exhibited in New York inspiring an interest in primitivism among artists. Frank Crowninshield commissioned Graham to assemble an African art collection for him. Graham moved to Mexico in 1936. In 1937 he published SYSTEMS AND DIALECTICS OF ART, stimulating American artists interest in primitive art. decades of activity 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1950-1960 updated 02/14/2025 10:12:23 bibliographic search Search Frick Art Reference Library Catalog Search Photoarchive Search Worldcat Search Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF) Search Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) Search Wikidata Entry Archives/Repository Collection Title Collection Details Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200 John D. Graham papers, 1799-1988 (bulk 1890-1961) see details... Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200 John D. Graham notebook and sketchbook, 1944-1946. see details... Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200 Papers of and related to John D. Graham, [ca. 1950-1960]. see details... The Brooklyn Museum Libraries and Archives 200 Eastern Parkway Artist file. Graham, John see details... Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200 Ultra Violet papers, 1959-1969. see details... Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200 Dorothy Dehner papers, 1920-1987 (bulk 1951-1987). see details... Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200 Selections from the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Archives of American Art collection, 1866-1968. see details... The Brooklyn Museum Libraries and Archives 200 Eastern Parkway Artist file. Graham, John, 1887-1961. see details... The Brooklyn Museum Libraries and Archives 200 Eastern Parkway Artist file. Graham, John, 1887-1961. see details... The Frick Collection and Frick Art Research Library 10 East 71st Street John D. Graham : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1920-2000 [graphic]. see details... The Museum of Modern Art Library and Archives Artist file: Graham, John D.; miscellaneous uncataloged material. see details... National Portrait Gallery Library Smithsonian American Art Museum Artist file: Graham, John , 1881-1961 see details... Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Library Smithsonian Institution Artist file: Graham, John , 1881-1961 see details... «  back