Theresa Pollak - Chronology

CHRONOLOGY

13 August 1899
Theresa Pollak was born in Richmond, Virginia, the daughter of Ester and Armin Pollak. (Her father died when she was about eleven months old)

1912-1917
Attended the Richmond Art Club as a student of Adele Clarke and Nora Houston (two very prominent suffragists in Virginia).

1918
Accepted scholarship to Westhampton College, University of Richmond. (After graduation from high school, Pollak always envisioned herself going to New York to study art, but the college scholarship and her mother's desire for Pollak to stay in Richmond influenced her decision to attend college in Richmond)

Summer 1919
Worked as an advertising artist at the Metropolitan Engraving Company.

1920
Spent the summer studying at the Art Student's League of New York. To Theresa, this trip gave her the answer to a question that was always in the back of her mind; "Would I stack up against the New York artists?"

1921
Graduated from Westhampton College at the University of Richmond with a B.S. in Chemistry.

1921-1923
Received a scholarship to the Art Student's League of New York. With the support of friends, associates and her mother, Pollak finally began her art studies in earnest.

1922
The Richmond News Leader published a series of Theresa Pollak's drawings.

1923-1925
Employed by Staples and Staples, National Advertising Agents as an advertising artist.

1924
The Richmond News Leader published another series of Theresa Pollak's drawings.

During this year, Miss Pollak became seriously ill. Her illness interrupted her studies at the League, but her instructor, Allen Tucker, kept Theresa up to date with her studies through correspondence. Mr. Tucker sent art books and magazines and Pollak mailed him her art work for critique. This relationship influenced Pollak's life forever.

1925-1926
Returned to the Art Student's League of New York, coming home during summers to work and pay for the next year's courses.

1926
First group exhibition in New York, which was held at the Studio Club of New York. She received their First Prize in painting.

1927
Participated in a three person show held in Richmond, Virginia at the Woman's Club Foyer.

1928
Accepted Dr. Henry H. Hibbs Jr.'s challenge to create an Art Department at the School of Social Work and Public Health, later to become the Richmond division of the College of William and Mary, and later still Richmond Professional Institute. In 1969, RPI became Virginia Commonwealth University, making Pollak VCU's first instructor of art. Pollak stayed on the faculty for nearly forty years.

Participated in a group exhibition in New York City held at Dudensing Gallery and in a three person show held in Richmond, Virginia at the Richmond Women's Club.

1930
Participated in the Twelfth Biennial of Contemporary American Painting at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Began to teach the first art classes offered at Westhampton College, University of Richmond, where she taught until 1935.

1931
Received the Richmond Academy of Art's Second Prize in painting.

Participated in a group exhibition in New York City held at the New York Society of Independent Artists.

1931-1949
Took part in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' Richmond Exhibition of Virginia Artists, Biennial held in Richmond, Virginia.

1932
Attended the Art Student's League of New York.

Part of a group exhibition G.R.D. Gallery in New York City.

Participated in the Whitney Museum of American Art's First Biennial of Contemporary Painting held in New York City.

Awarded a fellowship to the Tiffany Foundation in Oyster Bay, Long Island, where she spent the summer.

1933
Received the Carnegie Fellowship for study at the Fogg Museum, Harvard University, where she spent the summer.

Participated in two group shows in New York City, at the Argent Gallery and at Macbeth Gallery, and at the New England Society of Contemporary American Art exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.

1933-1934
Participated in a group exhibition held in New York City at the Salons of America.

1934
First one-person show in New York City at Delphic Studies.

Participated in a group exhibition held in White Sulphur Springs, Virginia at the Old White Art Gallery.

1935
Richmond Professional Institute promoted Pollak to Professor of Art and gave her a pay raise that enabled her to devote all of her time to VCU's Art School. At this time, the School of the Arts had grown in students and staff, and the administrative work was all handled by Pollak. Shortly after she left Westhampton College, University of Richmond.

1936
Virginia Commonwealth University's Anderson Gallery of Art in Richmond, Virginia and the Lynchburg Federal Art Gallery in Lynchburg, Virginia both honored her with solo shows.

1936-1938
Participated in group exhibitions at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Summer 1937
Joined the Steiger Paint Group in Edgartown, Massachusetts.

1939
Took part in the Southern States Art Exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia.

Received First Prize at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' Virginia Artists Biennial.

1940
Pollak has one-person shows at: Westhampton College, University of Richmond and at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia; the University of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Charlottesville, Virginia; and at Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia..

1941
University of Richmond elected Pollak to Epsilon Chapter, Phi Beta Kappa.

Farmville State Teachers College in Farmville, Virginia gave Pollak a one-person show.

1941-1942
Continued her studies at the Art Student's League of New York.

1941-1943
Participated in a group exhibition held in Oakland, California at the Oakland Art Gallery.

1942
Took part in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' American Painting Biennial held in Richmond, Virginia.

Became the first Faculty Chairman of the School of the Arts of Virginia Commonwealth University. She held this position until 1950, when she resigned because of her mother's declining health.

1947
Participated in group exhibitions in Youngstown, Ohio at Butler Art Institute and in Charleston, South Carolina at Gibbes Art Gallery.

1948
Took part in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' American Painting Biennial held in Richmond, Virginia.

1949
Participated in the The Richmond Scene exhibition at the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia.

1950
Exhibited in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' American Painting Biennial held in Richmond, Virginia.

1951
Participated in the The Richmond Scene exhibition at the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia.

Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia honored Pollak with a solo show.

1953
Presented her work in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' Richmond Exhibition of Virginia Artists, Biennial and in the The Richmond Scene exhibition at the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia.

1955
Took part in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' Richmond Exhibition of Virginia Artists, Biennial held in Richmond, Virginia; in the The Richmond Scene exhibition at the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia; and in a group exhibition at the Norfolk Museum of Fine Arts (now Chrysler) in Norfolk, Virginia.

1955-1975
Took part in the Richmond Artist Association Exhibits.

1956
Participated in a three person show held in Richmond, Virginia at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

1957
Received First Prize in painting from the Richmond Artists' Association.

1958
Participated in group exhibitions in Lynchburg, Virginia at the Lynchburg Art Center and in Athens, Georgia at the University of Georgia.

Spent the summer studying at the Hans Hofmann School of Painting in Provincetown, Massachusetts. After years of longing to be taught by the well-respected abstract expressionist painter Hans Hofmann, Pollak was finally able to attend his class following her mother's death. 1959
Once again, Pollak received First Prize in painting from the Richmond Artists' Association.

1960
Participated in a two person show held in Lexington, Virginia at Washington and Lee University.

The Jewish Community Center in Richmond, Virginia gave Pollak a one-person show.

Received the Norfolk Museum's Irene Leache Memorial Purchase Prize in painting and the Richmond Artists' Association First Prize in painting.

1960-1962
Participated in a group exhibition at the Norfolk Museum of Fine Arts in Norfolk, Virginia.

1961
Presented her work in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' Richmond Exhibition of Virginia Artists, Biennial held in Richmond, Virginia.

The University of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Charlottesville, Virginia gave Pollak a one-person show.

1962
Traveled to Europe for the first time. (There are notes and a series of paintings and drawings based on this trip)

1963
Participated in a group exhibition held in Ferrum, Virginia at Ferrum College.

1964
Took part in group exhibitions held in Fredericksburg, Virginia at the Fredericksburg Gallery of Modern Art; in Auburn, New York at Muggleton Gallery; and in Rocky Mount, North Carolina at the Rocky Mount Art Center.

Received First Prize in painting from the Richmond Artists' Association and the Distinguished Alumna Award from Westhampton College, University of Richmond.

Participated in a three person show held in Williamsburg, Virginia at Twentieth Century Gallery.

1965
Westhampton College, University of Richmond gave her a one-person show.

The Virginia Museum Council invited Pollak to be a Special Lecturer.

1966
The University of Richmond invited Pollak to participate in their Faculty-Alumni Forum.

Took part in a group exhibition at Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia.

1967
Was part of a three person show held in Fredericksburg, Virginia at the Fredericksburg Gallery of Modern Art.

1968
Participated in a group exhibition at the Norfolk Museum of Fine Arts.

1969
Retired form teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Received the title of Professor Emerita of the School of the Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University.

The School of the Arts published a booklet written by Theresa, "An Art School, Some Reminiscences."

Virginia Commonwealth University's Anderson Gallery honored her with a retrospective.

Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia gave her a one-peron show.

1971
The School of the Arts building at Virginia Commonwealth University was named the "Theresa Pollak Building" in her honor.

Received the Certificate of Distinction in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' Richmond Exhibition of Virginia Artists, Biennial held in Richmond, Virginia.

1972
Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina exhibited Theresa Pollak's drawings in a solo show.

1973
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia and at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia both gave Pollak one-person shows.

Member, First and Merchants Bank (Sovran) included Theresa Pollak as part of their Advisory Committee for Purchasing Project.

Received an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Art from the University of Richmond.

Was part of a two person show held in Williamsburg, Virginia at Twentieth Century Gallery. (Theresa felt it would be her very last show. She has had many more shows since, the last ones within the past ten years)

1974
Westhampton College, University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia honored Pollak with a solo show.

Designed Christmas cards for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

1975
Participated in Virginia Commonwealth University's Oral History Program.

Received First Prize in painting by the Richmond Artists' Association.

Took part in a group exhibition at Scott-McKennis Fine Arts Gallery in Richmond, Virginia.

1976
Received the Richmond Federated Arts Council Annual Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts.

Participated in "Drawing Contempo, 76" held at Virginia Commonwealth University's Anderson Gallery in Richmond, Virginia, and received their Special Merit Award.

1977
Virginia Cultural Laureate Center presented Miss Pollak with the Peer Eminent Award in the Arts.

1978
Virginia Commonwealth University awarded Pollak with an Honorary Doctorate in the Humanities.

1979
Participated in two Richmond, Virginia group exhibitions - at Scott-McKennis Fine Arts Gallery and in "June Jubilee" Invitational, an exhibition sponsored by the Richmond Federated Arts Council and held at 1708 Gallery.

Scott-McKennis Fine Arts Gallery in Richmond, Virginia gave Pollak a one-person show .

1980
Participated in a group exhibition at Reynolds/Minor Gallery in Richmond, Virginia.

1982
Reynolds/Minor Gallery in Richmond, Virginia exhibited Theresa Pollak's drawings in a solo exhibition entitled "Theresa Pollak: Drawings 1940-1982." This was the first Richmond show devoted to Pollak's Drawings.

1986
Received the YWCA "One of ten most prominent women of the Year in Richmond" Award.

Reynolds/Minor Gallery in Richmond, Virginia exhibited Miss Pollak's drawings and paintings in a solo show.

Virginia Commonwealth University's Anderson Gallery held a retrospective of Pollak's paintings and drawings dating from 1924 to 1986.

1986-87
Took part in the Virginia Commonwealth University Faculty Exhibition held at the Anderson Gallery in Richmond, Virginia.

1988
The Reynolds/Minor Gallery in Richmond presented Pollak with a one-person show.

1999
Celebrated her 100th birthday.

2002
Miss Pollak died Wednesday, September 18, 2002.

[This information in this chronology was compiled by the staff of Special Collections and Archives. More information can be found in other areas of this exhibit or by emailing Special Collections and Archives with your questions or comments.]

Updated Monday, August 13, 2012