Rubin Peacock Artist Archives (VA-08), 1945/2021

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
VMFA Archives
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library
200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Roxanne Winfield
Phone: (804) 340-1497
Phone: (804) 340-1495
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research. One folder is restricted and an unrestricted copy is located within the collection. Access to restricted materials may require written permission of the donor and/or the VMFA Director.

Terms of access:

The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Upon donation, Peacock assigned to the VMFA Archives all of his available rights of copyright in the materials. Transmission or reproduction of other materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.

Preferred citation:

Rubin Peacock Artist Archives (VA-08). Gift of Rubin Peacock. VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1.5 Linear Feet 6 boxes; 11 folders; 1,238 items
Creator:
Peacock, Rubin, 1941- and Peacock, Rubin, 1941-
Abstract:
This collection documents the life and artwork of Rubin Peacock (1941-), a Richmond-based sculptor. For over fifty years, Rubin has dedicated his career to experimenting with bronze sculptures, taking inspiration from nature, ancient civilizations, and his Catawba Indian ancestry. His work has challenged popular art trends as many sculptors chose to utilize other materials in their work, making him one of few Virginia artists to use bronze. In addition to a diverse array of photographic materials documenting Rubin's art production, processes, and completed pieces, this collection contains correspondence and publications detailing commissions, supply shipments, and patina formulas, providing an in-depth overview of Rubin's art career.
Language:
English , Latin .
Preferred citation:

Rubin Peacock Artist Archives (VA-08). Gift of Rubin Peacock. VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection documents the life and artwork of Rubin Peacock. The collection's inclusive dates are 1945-2021, with the bulk of the material dating from the 1960s-1990s. The collection contains correspondence, ephemera, negatives, photographs, publications, and other manuscript material.

Biographical / historical:

Rubin Clifton Peacock

Born: September 8, 1941, Winston-Salem, NC

Rubin Peacock is an American sculptor whose works have been inspired by nature, ancient civilizations, and his Catawba Indian ancestry. Rubin's works are largely abstract with an emphasis on humanity's relationship with nature and the permanence of creating art with bronze.

Rubin Peacock began his career as a percussionist with a traveling rock and roll band in 1960. Using the money he earned from his music performances, Rubin pursued a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia in Athens, graduating in 1965. Upon completing his undergraduate education, Rubin went on to join the Peace Corps as an art teacher from 1965-1967, teaching students at Camp Cobbla in Jamaica and creating a scholarship for two of his students by selling his sculptures in an exhibition at the Bolivar Gallery in 1967.

After taking a brief hiatus in which he traveled throughout Central and South America to study art, Rubin returned to the United States to continue his education, graduating with a Masters of Fine Arts from Richmond Professional Institute - now Virginia Commonwealth University - in 1969. Rubin established himself in Virginia in 1969 with the purchase of an abandoned house called "Marlboro" that he transformed into the Aylett Art Foundry, buying his 303 Brook Road Richmond studio and gallery in 1985. Rubin regularly experimented with different modes of expression through bronze and exhibited his artwork in a variety of galleries, including his own.

Rubin has been commissioned by institutions such as The Carpenter Co., the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Gunston Hall, the National Cathedral, the National Electronics Museum, and numerous private collectors, and has exhibited in galleries such as VMFA, 1708 Gallery, the Chrysler Museum of Art, Mickelson Gallery, the Sande Webster Gallery, and Sarasota's Modern Art Gallery, among others.

Sources: Collection materials; "Rubin Peacock: 50 Years of Bronze Sculpture" by Rubin Peacock

Custodial history:

The collection was donated to the VMFA Archives by Rubin Peacock in January 2022.

Processing information:

In general, during processing, all publications are removed and added to the VMFA Library's holdings. Original newspaper clippings are photocopied, with photocopies being integrated into mixed material folders and originals being retained in their own folders. Original folder titles are retained, when provided.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into 3 series, and items are generally arranged chronologically within each series. Items with no date are generally placed at the end of each series.

Series 1
Art Production, 1966-1986
Series 2
Artwork, 1969-2015
Series 3
Biographical, 1945-2021