Walter "Chico" Hopps (May 3, 1932 – March 20, 2005) was an American museum director, gallerist, and curator of contemporary art. Hopps helped bring Los Angeles post-war artists to prominence during the 1960s, and later went on to redefine practices of curatorial installation internationally. He is known for contributing decisively to “the emergence of the museum as a place to show new art.” (Roberta Smith, New York Times)
Early life and education
Hopps was born on May 3, 1932, into a family of surgeons and doctors in Los Angeles, California.[2][4]
Home-tutored until junior high school, he then attended the Polytechnic School in Pasadena, followed by Eagle Rock High School.[2] Assignment to Eagle Rock’s arts-enrichment program led to acquaintance with pioneering Modern Art collectors Walter and Louise Arensberg, and eventually to their mentorship of young Hopps.[5]
In 1950, Hopps enrolled at Stanford University. After one year, Hopps transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to study microbiology[2] and art history.
Collaborations and exhibitions
Walter Hopp's 53-year career was marked by numerous and often overlapping collaborations, as well as his mentorship of younger professionals. Outcomes included the creation of a number of well-known cultural venues, exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, and notable museum and curatorial assignments:
1952-1954: Concert Hall Workshop was co-founded by Hopps and Stanford classmate Jim Newman (founder of Dilexi Gallery in San Francisco) with Craig Kauffman, among others, to present contemporary music (mostly jazz). Beginning with their acquaintance at Stanford, the working relationship of Hopps and Newman extended for several years (see Syndell Studio, below).