Oral History Projects

Robert Rauschenberg Oral History Project, 2014 - 2018

In an effort to preserve the legacy of Rauschenberg’s life and work, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, in collaboration with INCITE/Columbia Center for Oral History Research, undertook the Robert Rauschenberg Oral History Project. This collection of firsthand accounts, as told by the artist’s family, friends, and many collaborators, is housed on the foundation website. An illustrated pdf of the entire transcript is provided for each oral history. Select oral histories also include a short biography of the narrator, an excerpt from the interview transcript, documentary photography, and a short video or audio clip. Transcripts may also be viewed at the Columbia University website and in its Rare Books and Manuscript Library, New York.

Preferred Citation:
The Reminiscences of PERSON, DATE. Robert Rauschenberg Oral History Project. Conducted in collaboration with INCITE/Columbia Center for Oral History Research. Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Archives.

Stories Project, ongoing

While the Robert Rauschenberg Oral History Project undertaken with Columbia University was completed in 2018, we continue to seek out first-hand accounts and stories about the artist. Some of these can be found in the Additional Transcripts section below.

Preferred Citation:
PERSON, DATE. Stories Project. Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Archives.

We recognize that there are a number of Rauschenberg storytellers who we may as yet not know and whose stories we are eager to hear. Should you have a noteworthy Rauschenberg story that you would like to share with us, and which relates to the life and times of the artist, we welcome hearing from you. Please contact us at archives@rauschenbergfoundation.org.

Interviews with Rauschenberg Friends and Associates, 2011-2012

In 2010, a preliminary oral history project, Interviews with Rauschenberg Friends and Associates, was undertaken by Karen Thomas of Film Odyssey at the request of the Robert Rauschenberg Revocable Trust. Transcripts from this earlier project can be found in the Additional Transcripts section below.

Preferred Citation:
PERSON, DATE. Interviews with Rauschenberg Friends and Associates. Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Archives.

Rauschenberg in his Broadway studio, New York, 1965. Photo: Ugo Mulas © Ugo Mulas Heirs. All rights reserved. www.ugomulas.org

Rauschenberg in his Broadway studio, New York, 1965. Photo: Ugo Mulas © Ugo Mulas Heirs. All rights reserved. www.ugomulas.org

Select Oral Histories from the Robert Rauschenberg Oral History Project

Janet Begneaud

Lynda Benglis

Thomas Buehler

Susan Davidson

Virginia Dwan

Ken Elliott

Sidney Felsen

Simone Forti

Laurence Getford

Arne Glimcher

Agnes Gund

Deborah Hay

Alex Hay

Harold Hodges

Eric Holt

Fredericka Hunter

Mary Lynn Kotz

Dorothy Lichtenstein

Brice Marden

Julie Martin

Robert Petersen

Yvonne Rainer

Christopher Rauschenberg

Donald Saff

Asha and Suhrid Sarabhai

Hisachika Takahashi

Mayo Thompson

Calvin Tomkins

Lawrence Voytek

Susan Weil

David White

Robert Whitman

Larry Wright

Laurie Anderson

Additional Transcripts

Download full transcripts of oral histories by Rauschenberg's friends, family, and associates from three oral history projects: the Rauschenberg Oral History Project, Stories Project, and Interviews with Rauschenberg Friends and Associates.

The individual transcripts indicate which project the interview is associated with. For individuals that participated in more than one project, the year of the interview is included after their names.