Robert Altman
b.1944 - d.2021
As a recent graduate of Hunter College in NY, Robert Altman first began shooting photographs as a creative hobby. When customers at the East Village psychedelic shop he started with some friends complimented his work, a career was born. As a young man in the 1960s, documenting his participation in the musical and cultural evolutions taking place allowed him to capture many extraordinary moments.
"The 60's were a unique, magical time. There will never be another time quite like it and there shouldn't be. We were young, idealistic, headstrong, restless, brash, convinced of our righteous path and delighted that we were all together making unforgettable noise." - Robert Altman
Altman was a professional photographer for many years - first from 1969-71 as a music photographer and photojournalist for Rolling Stone Magazine, and then for several decades he has headed his own commercial studio in San Francisco, specializing in fashion photography as well as being a television producer/director for KEMO-TV. He was a very early adopter of digital photography and an enthusiastic blogger on the web.
As an adjunct professor he taught at the The Center of Electronic Art; The UC Berkeley Extension and San Francisco State University's Multimedia Center. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the City University of New York (Hunter College) where he served as President of his class.
Altman has exhibited his artwork in many cities around the US and internationally. His work has been featured in in a multitude of film documentaries, and published on album covers, books, magazines and newspapers. His work is a part of the permanent collections of The Library of Congress, The Smithsonian, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Kodak Rock Photography Collection.
In 2007 he published his book The Sixties featuring a large portion of his photographic archive and it garnered superlative appreciation and consummate reviews. In 2009 he took over Macy's flagship store in New York City and exhibited over 110 pieces in their legendary display windows in a showcase called "Art Under Glass.“ Mr. Altman then completed a very successful 6 month exhibit at the Woodstock Museum, at Bethel Woods.
In 2010 Mr. Altman was awarded a Doctor of Arts by the Digital Media Arts College where he also gave the keynote address.
In 2018 Robert Altman donated his photographic archive, including his negatives, printed photographs, and copyrights to UC Berkeley's Bancroft Library where it will be catalogued and preserved. Robert Altman passed away in September, 2021.
Very few signed photographs remain in inventory. Please contact us to inquire about any available pieces.