Oral history interview with Bob Monk, 2015

Biographical Note

Bob Monk is a director at Gagosian Gallery, and was previously a director at Sotheby's. He began his career at Leo Castelli Gallery, and went on to co-found the Lorence-Monk Gallery with Susan Lorence, which operated from 1985-1991

Scope and Contents

Monk describes the interpersonal relationships between Rauschenberg, Ileana Sonnabend, and Leo Castelli, noting professional tensions between Castelli and Rauschenberg that eventually led to the dissolution of their partnership. Monk shares his impression of Rauschenberg's artistic tipping point, or decline, after moving to Captiva and through the ROCI period. He claims that the changing art world and the rise of new Castelli Gallery stars prompted the move and Rauschenberg's subsequent "dry spell." He additionally comments on his role in Rauschenberg's legacy and his perception of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation

Subjects

• Art, Modern.
• Art--Collectors and collecting.
• Art--Marketing.
• Art galleries, Commercial.
• Captiva Island (Fla.)
• Castelli, Leo.
• Gagosian Gallery.
• Interviews.
• Leo Castelli Gallery.
• Lorence-Monk Gallery (New York, N.Y.)
• Monk, Bob--Interviews.
• Older artists.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Rauschenberg, Robert, 1925-2008.
• Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange.
• Sinclair, Sara interviewer.
• Sonnabend, Ileana.
• Sonnabend Gallery (New York, N.Y.)

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York and Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, 2015