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.