In Memory

Ford (Clancy) Beckman - Class Of 1970

Clancy passed away on November 18, 2014

http://bit.ly/BeckmanClancy

FORD BECKMAN OBITUARY

FORD BECKMAN (1952 – 2014)

Ford Beckman, a painter who rose to prominence in the New York art scene of the late 1980's, died Tuesday at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 62. The cause of death was a heart attack.

Beckman was deeply committed to his faith and regarded his artwork as a celebration of that faith.

His first New York exhibitions at Craig Cornelius Gallery and Tony Shafrazi Gallery were well received, both critically and commercially. His spare reductive black and white paintings on plywood caught the attention of collectors including Peter Brant, Charles Saatchi and Count Guiseppe Panza with Panza becoming his largest collector, eventually owning 50 works by Beckman.

In 1992, at Hans Mayer Gallery, Dusseldorf, Beckman debuted his Pop Paintings series: both disturbing and familiar, these paintings were based on mass produced images of clowns. Artnews quoted Beckman, "The clown is the perfect icon of our time-wonderful and joyous to some, frightening and nightmarish to others."

From his friendship with Cy Twombly, in 1994 emerged the "La Roma" paintings, many which were produced while working in Twombly's studio in Gaeta. While still using plywood panels as a support, a signature throughout his career, the exuberant color, organic forms and gestural drawing of this series paid homage to Twombly.

In the early 1990's Beckman left New York for Tulsa, Oklahoma where he had attended college to better address the care of his daughter, a special needs child. Beckman would continue to make art with exhibitions of recent work at McClain Gallery, Houston and Maloney Fine Art, Los Angeles.

His work is included in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Essl Collection, Vienna.

Beckman is survived by his wife Cynthia and daughter Isabella. Condolences can be sent to the Beckman Studio, 6450 South Lewis, Suite 220, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74136. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Ford Beckman Studio Trust, dedicated to the care of his disabled widow, Cynthia and his special needs daughter, Isabella.

Published by New York Times from Nov. 21 to Nov. 22, 2014.

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Amid all the abstract swirls and eye-popping pop art images, at least one thing about Ford Beckman’s works never changed.

They contained a lot of Ford Beckman.

“All paintings are self-portraits,” the artist told the Tulsa World once.

“That’s all really good painters do — they’re putting themselves on canvas or wood. That’s the part of painting that you can’t teach.”

Putting himself on canvas, though, didn’t mean Beckman was primarily self-concerned. On the contrary, his creative energy was usually directed outward and upward.

“I am a Christian and whenever I paint, I’m praying,” he said. “… (Painting) is really all about faith, trusting in the one who guides you.”

 
 

Ford Arnold Beckman, a successful fashion designer-turned-artist whose paintings are in museums and private collections around the world, died Tuesday at his home in Tulsa from a heart attack. He was 62.

 

A private family service was held. Adamscrest Cremation handled arrangements.

Beckman’s works can be found in the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City; the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles; the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the Saatchi Collection in London; the Essl Collection in Vienna; and the Panza Collection in Italy.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Beckman came to Tulsa in the early 1970s on a golf scholarship to Oral Roberts University.

 
 

Although he majored in art at ORU, it was the fashion world in which he would make his first splash.

It started in 1972, when Beckman opened a specialty clothing store, Clancy’s, at 41st Street and Peoria Avenue, moving later to Utica Square.

In 1980, Beckman relocated to New York City and soon became well known as a fashion designer. He even established his own label, specializing in men’s and women’s sportswear, textiles and home design.

 

But in the early 1990s he came back to his first love. Beginning to concentrate solely on painting “was the best thing I ever did,” Beckman said.

From his first New York exhibitions at the Craig Cornelius Gallery and Tony Shafrazi Gallery, which were well-received both critically and commercially, Beckman went on to make fans of individual collectors and major institutions worldwide.

 

Among his most celebrated works were several series of paintings, including the abstract “Black Wall Paintings,” “Salvation Paintings” and “Rhythm Paintings,” as well as a pop art series featuring images of clowns.

But the hard times that eventually hit the art world derailed Beckman, too. After returning to Tulsa about 10 years ago, friends say, he had struggled financially. Along the way he also lost the impressive art collection he had built over the years.

 

“He had high highs and low lows,” said a friend, Ben Ferrell of Tulsa. “But even in the worst times I never heard him say a negative word. He was a great artist, but even more, an amazing person.”

 

Although he had walked away from art for a while, Ferrell said, Beckman came back to it. He recently had been hard at work on a new painting series, “Pop Targets.”

Beckman’s survivors include his wife, Cynthia Beckman, and daughter, Isabella Beckman.

A fund has been set up and dedicated to the care of Beckman’s disabled widow and special-needs daughter, Ferrell said.

Donations may be mailed to the Ford Beckman Studio, 6450 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 220, Tulsa, OK, 74136.

 

Tim Stanley 918-581-8385

tim.stanley@tulsaworld.com


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05/25/16 05:13 PM #1    

Joyce Hildenbrand (Turnbull) (1969)

Clancy (Ford) Beckman died in November 2014 of a heart attack in Tulsa, OK.  

Since WYHS, he became a famous fashion designer and internationally-acclaimed artist.  His works are mostly abstract and are in collections and museums around the world.  You can google 'Ford Beckman' to read more about Clancy's interesting life after WYHS.

Beckman’s survivors include his wife, Cynthia Beckman, and daughter, Isabella Beckman.  A fund has been set up and dedicated to the care of Beckman’s disabled widow and special-needs daughter, Ferrell said.

Donations may be mailed to the Ford Beckman Studio, 6450 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 220, Tulsa, OK, 74136.


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