The Life and Career of Peter Bermingham

Peter Bermingham lived a life defined by a dual devotion to the study and the creation of art. An American art historian and painter, he moved through the academic and institutional worlds with a steady, scholarly hand. His formal training reached a significant milestone in 1971, when he earned a doctorate in art history from the University of Michigan. This academic foundation preceded a series of roles that would place him at the center of American museum life, beginning with a brief tenure as an assistant professor of art history at the University of Cincinnati from 1970 to 1971.

His professional trajectory led him to the Smithsonian Institution, where he served as a curator of education from 1972 to 1978. It was during this period that his influence on public engagement with art began to take shape. However, it was in Tucson that his institutional leadership became most established. Bermingham joined the University of Arizona Museum of Art, eventually serving as its director and chief curator for over 20 years. From 1978 to 1998, he guided the institution through decades of growth and change, working to make art accessible to the community and the university campus alike.

Artistic Style and Notable Works

Working primarily in acrylics and watercolor, Bermingham possessed a talent for the deadpan and the absurd. His paintings often functioned as ironic commentaries on the culture surrounding him, frequently utilizing a sense of humor to puncture the seriousness of the art world. This wit was not merely a stylistic choice but a fundamental element of his creative output, allowing him to approach heavy subjects with a light, often satirical, touch.

One of his most striking pieces, Untitled (After Theodore Géricault's 'Raft of the Medusa' 1818-1819), serves as a prime example of this approach. In this work, he reimagined the dramatic scene by depicting a torrent of water spilling from the canvas onto a museum wall, creating a humorous allegory of the chaos of museum life. His ability to blend traditional styles with such unexpected, quirky narratives defined much of his personal practice.

His subject matter frequently leaned into the regional and the personal. In Art, Love It or Be Shot, he depicted three artists dressed in ranch duds, frantically painting a Tucson starry night under the watchful eye of an armed cowpoke. This piece highlights his ability to weave western clichés into his compositions with a sharp, satirical edge. Other works, such as Ken Little Is 35, demonstrated his willingness to use his art for personal, even biting, gestures, using bold colors and dripping letters to convey his message.

Later Years and Passing

The final chapter of Bermingham's life was marked by sudden medical challenges. Following a heart attack and a subsequent third heart attack, he underwent emergency surgery. Despite these efforts, he passed away on January 30 at the age of 61. His death occurred in a hospital setting, with his family present at his side.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor, and their five children. His departure left a void in the community he had served through both his administrative leadership and his personal creative output. He was a man who balanced the formal responsibilities of museum management with a private, often humorous, artistic sensibility.