Richard Oviet Tyler papers, 1930-2020
Collection context
- Extent:
- 5 Linear Feet (2 flat boxes)
- Language:
- English
- Scope and content:
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This collection is an in-depth window into the New York avant-garde scene in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Biographical / historical:
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Richard Oviet Tyler (1926–1983) was an American artist and publisher who blended avant-garde art with spiritual and existential themes. After serving in World War II, where he witnessed the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, Tyler pursued art on the GI Bill and became involved in New York's downtown art scene. He co-founded the Uranian Phalanstery and First New York Gnostic Lyceum Temple in 1959 with his wife, Dorothea Baer. This quasi-religious, art-focused collective embraced experimental practices like group performances, psychedelic experiences, and cosmological rituals, aiming for creative enlightenment and self-transcendence. Through the Uranian Press, Tyler produced socio-spiritual tracts, broadsides, and artworks influenced by figures like William Blake and José Guadalupe Posada, addressing fears of nuclear apocalypse and societal unrest. His works, often deeply personal and politically charged, reflected a "life-as-art" philosophy, where creativity served as a pathway to spiritual and social exploration.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
- Terms of access:
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Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
- Contact:
- rbml@library.columbia.edu