Otis Oldfield

Otis William Oldfield (July 3, 1890 – May 18, 1969)^[1][2] was a San Francisco painter, printmaker and art educator.

Otis William Oldfield
Born	(1890-07-03)July 3, 1890 Sacramento, California, U.S.
Died	May 18, 1969(1969-05-18) (aged 78) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Education	Best’s Art School, Académie Julian
Occupation(s)	painter, muralist, printmaker, educator
Spouse	Helen Clark (m. 1926–1969; death)

"Man with Dog", 1923 self-portrait by Otis Oldfield

Early life and education

Otis William Oldfield was born on July 3, 1890, in Sacramento, California.^[1][3] He attended Sutter High School but at age 16 he dropped out of school in order to work.^[4]

In 1908, he attended Best’s Art School in San Francisco,^[5][4][6] operated by Alice Leveque Best and Arthur William Best. In 1911, he moved to Paris to attend Académie Julian.^[5] He remained in France until 1924, then moved back to San Francisco.^[5][6]

Career

Bay Area Map (1934), one of Oldfield's frescos at Coit Tower

In 1925, Oldfield had a successful solo show at San Francisco’s Galerie Beaux Arts, an exhibit of work made while he was living in France.^[5] In 1929, Oldfield had two exhibitions of San Francisco water scenes at Montross Gallery in New York City.^[5][7]

The following year in 1930, Oldfield worked with architect Timothy Pflueger to create painted windows for the bar at the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange.^[5] In 1934, he was one of 26 artists selected to paint murals in the newly erected Coit Tower.^[8] One of his frescos there is titled Shipping Activities Inside the Golden Gate.^[2]

Teaching

Starting in 1925, he taught at California School of Fine Art (now San Francisco Art Institute) painting and drawing courses.^[5] From 1946 until 1952 he taught at the California College of Arts and Crafts (now called California College of the Arts, or CCA).^[9]

Oldfield's students included Yun Gee,^[10] Richard Diebenkorn,^[5] and Nathan Oliveira.^[5] In addition to teaching Yun Gee, Otis Oldfield and Yun Gee were also good friends.^[11][12]

Death and legacy

Oldfield died on May 18, 1969, in San Francisco, California.^[2] He was survived by his wife Helen Clark Oldfield [Wikidata], who continued to paint until her death in 1981.

His work is in public museum collections include at Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco,^[5] Los Angeles County Museum of Art,^[13] Crocker Art Museum,^[14] National Gallery of Art,^[15] Smithsonian American Art Museum,^[16] Metropolitan Museum of Art,^[17]