Biography
At the age of six, Beate Wheeler and her family fled their home of Rotibor, Germany in 1938 to escape Nazi rule. After arriving on Ellis Island, she attended the progressive school, Manumit in Pawling, New York and was one of roughly 25 Jewish refugee children hosted by Manumit during WWII. During her time there, she studied art and continued her education receiving a BFA from Syracuse University. (Beate-Wheeler-Holst.com)
While pursuing her MFA at UC Berkeley, Milton Resnick mentored Wheeler, helping her to propel her career. Wheeler and sculptor Mark di Suvero then followed Resnick back to New York City where they established the March Gallery with Pat Passlof, Elaine de Kooning and Robert Beauchamp. March Gallery was one of the eight cooperative artist-run establishments known as the Tenth Street Galleries, the heart of the avant-garde.
In 1970, Wheeler became one of the earliest residents of Westbeth Artist Housing, a visionary project that repurposed 13 industrial buildings into nearly 400 live-work spaces for artists, complete with areas for exhibitions and performances.
Throughout her career, Wheeler remained deeply committed to her artistic integrity, often resisting the pressures of commercial success. In one memorable instance, she returned payment for a painting, feeling she wasn't yet ready to part with it. Despite her reluctance to self-promote, her work gained recognition. In 1982, ARTnews honored her in its 80th Anniversary issue as an "Artists' Artist," citing her exceptional draftsmanship and refined sense of color. Her work was also acquired by prominent collectors, including Nelson A. Rockefeller.
(Adapted from Beate-Wheeler-Holst.com and ARTnews, Nov 1982).