Norman Tolman
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Norman Tolman | |
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| File:Norman Tolman in The Tolman Collection Tokyo.jpg Norman Tolman in The Tolman Collection Tokyo (2019) | |
| Born | July 12, 1936 Walpole, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (B.A.), Yale University (M.A.), IUC, Tokyo University |
| Years active | 1972 - present |
Norman Herbert Tolman (born 12 July 1936) is an American art dealer and art collector known for his role in championing contemporary Japanese graphic art. He is best known as the founder of The Tolman Collection, a leading publisher and exhibitor of contemporary Japanese graphic art. [1] [2] Tolman exhibited and befriended artists like Saitō Kiyoshi, Shinoda Toko and Mori Yoshitoshi.
Early life
Born in Walpole, Massachusetts in 1936, as the youngest of four children. Tolman was raised by his mother and sister, and became a newspaper delivery boy at age 7.[1] Tolman graduated high school in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1955, going on to enlist in the United States Air Force during the Korean War.[1]
Education and early career
During his Air Force career, he was sent to Yale University for nine months of intensive study in Chinese Language, and thereafter worked in both Taiwan and at the NSA as a language specialist.
After the Korean War, Tolman got a B.A. in Chinese Language at UC Berkeley, while working as a translator and editor. [3] Tolman went on to get a scholarship, allowing him to obtain a M.A. in Asian Studies at Yale. Tolman also received a Title VI NDEA Fellowship in 1964, to the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies and Tokyo University [4], studying Japanese.[1][4]
After the IUC and Tokyo University, Tolman returned to U.C. Berkeley to pursue his PhD in late Tibetan and early Chinese linguistics, but left academia to accept employment as a cultural affairs officer in the USIA. Tolman was initially posted to the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong, before being subsequently posted to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Between 1970 and 1972, Tolman was the Director of the American Cultural Center in Sapporo and then in Kyoto. [3]
The Tolman Collection
While working in Japan in the 1960s and 70s, Tolman's love of Japanese prints saw him trade embassy work for art dealing. Founding The Tolman Collection of Tokyo alongside his wife Mary Tolman in 1972, with the purpose of introducing contemporary Japanese prints to a world-wide audience. [2]
Before becoming leading publishers of contemporary Japanese art, their first gallery was located in Suginami-ku, "with six prints by six artists".[3]
During the gallery's founding period, Norman and Mary Tolman contributed weekly columns to the Mainichi Shimbun. Norman's column, titled Japanophiles, explored foreign enthusiasts of Japanese culture, while Mary's Behind the Scenes, offered insights into the art world.[1] This developed into writing columns about artists like Shinoda Toko, with Tolman becoming her main dealer for over 40 years.[4] Shinoda released more than 315 pieces exclusively for The Tolman Collection.[5]
In the 1980s, the Tolmans relocated the gallery to a former ryotei in the Shibadaimon area of Minato-ku, where it has remained ever since.[3] On the topic of The Tolman Collection, Tolman has said: "We do things in a Japanese way with an American undertone, and I think the combination is a successful one."[6]
The types of art techniques found in the The Tolman Collection's gallery include woodblocks, etchings, lithographs, mezzotints, drypoints, stencils, silkscreens, paintings, and sculptures.[5]
Tolman continued to travel extensively, visiting over 80 countries, and setting up galleries across the world. At its peak, The Tolman Collection had locations in Paris, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and New York City. [1][3]
As of 2024, the Tokyo and New York galleries remain, with the latter headed by Tolman's oldest daughter, Allison. [7]
Artists
Artists who have been represented or exhibited by The Tolman Collection include:
- Shinoda Toko
- Saitō Kiyoshi
- Yoshitoshi Mori
- Iwami Reika
- Clifton Karhu
- Tanaka Ryohei
- Wako Shuji
- Daniel Kelly
- Hamanishi Katsunori
- Tsubota Masahiko
- Hasegawa Yuichi
- Sarah Brayer
- Takahashi Hiromitsu
- Imamura Yoshio
- Kawachi Seiko
- Kawamura Sayaka
- Kinoshita Taika
- Kuroda Shigeki
- Nakazawa Shinichi
- Nagai Kenji
- Nishimura Ryo
- Kinoshita Taika
- Oda Mayumi
- Saito Noriko
- Tamekane Yoshikatsu
- Tsubota Masayuki
- Uchida Emi
- Yoshimatsu Junichiro
Exhibitions
Tolman has been prolifically exhibiting Japanese art since the founding of The Tolman Collection. [1]
Three of the largest exhibitions led by Tolman include:
- A three-month exhibition at Retretti Museum in Finland.
- An exhibition in the Cairo Opera House.
- Solo show of works by Shinoda Toko at the Singapore Art Museum, the first show of works by a Japanese artist in that museum.
Publications
- Tolman, Mary; Tolman, Norman (1982). People Who Make Japanese Prints: A Personal Glimpse. Shobunsha Publications. Includes a foreword by James Michener.
- Tolman, Mary; Tolman, Norman (1982). Ouchi Makoto: Artist Warrior. Shobunsha Publications.
- Tolman, Mary; Tolman, Norman (1993). Toko Shinoda: A New Appreciation. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-1904-1.
- Tolman, Mary; Tolman, Norman (1994). Collecting Modern Japanese Prints, Then and Now. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-1936-X.
- Tolman, Mary; Tolman, Norman (2004). Karhu @ 77: A Personal Tribute. Abe Publishing. ISBN 978-4872421729.
- Tolman, Norman (2017). Things Are Seldom What They Seem.
- The Tolman Collection (2018). The Tolman Collection at Saito Kiyoshi Museum.
Collecting art
While amassing works for The Tolman Collection, Tolman also built up his own personal collection, not limited to contemporary Japanese graphic art. Tolman possesses a haniwa, as well as works by Kusama Yayoi, Saitō Kiyoshi, and Shinoda Toko.
Tolman also donated parts of his collection to institutions including Yale University, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and Smith College.
Personal life
Norman Tolman married Mary Spellman in 1958. They have two daughters and a grandson. [1]
Tolman has always been interested in fashion, being a friend and fan of Japanese designers like Issey Miyake and Hanae Mori.
Tolman is also a vintage car enthusiast, having owned two Rolls-Royces, a Jaguar, and a convertible Cadillac.
Tolman currently resides in Toranomon, Minato-ku, he has been living in Asia for over 60 years.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Tolman Collection Tokyo - About", The Tolman Collection Tokyo. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Art Fair Tokyo 2019 Profile: Norman Tolman", Metropolis Japan. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Norman Tolman", Japan Times. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d "A Renowned Art Collector Tells Us How to Begin Collecting Prints and Paintings" Tokyo Weekender. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "TOLMAN: JAPAN’S TOP PRINTS", Japan Times. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b "The Tolman Collection at Décor", Metropolis Japan. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b "The Tolman Collection New York - About", The Tolman Collection New York. Retrieved 16 June 2024.