WOMEN IN HISTORY - LOUISE NEVELSON

Sculptor known for monumental pieces

DATE OF BIRTH

September 23, 1899

PLACE OF BIRTH

Pereiaslav, Ukraine

DATE OF DEATH

April 17, 1988

PLACE OF DEATH

New York, New York

FAMILY BACKGROUND

Leah Berliawsky emigrated with her Jewish family to the United States in the early 19th century. She took on the name Louise and learned to speak English in school. Her father ran a lumber yard.

EDUCATION

From the time she was a child she knew she wanted to be an artist, a sculptor. She left her banking job and her husband to study at The Arts Student League in the 1930’s. Later she travelled to Germany to become a student of Hans Hoffman. An admirer of the abstract expressionists, she experimented with conceptual art and using found objects. She developed the art form called Assemblage. Using mostly wood pieces, her sculptures appeared puzzle-like, standing boxes filled with interesting forms. One unique feature is that very often the entire sculpture, or assemblage, would be painted solid black of solid white.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Louise Nevelson Plaza in lower Manhattan features a collection of her work. Her sculpture, assemblages, paintings and prints are found in major museums and collections all over the world. She is often referred to as “The Empress of Modern Art.”

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • Albee, Edward, Introduction. Atmospheres and Environments. Crown Publishers, NY, Whitney Museum of Art.
  • Wilson, Laurie. Light and Shadow. Thomas and Hudson, 2016.

WEBSITES

QUOTES

“I never feel age...if you have creative work, you don’t have age or time.” ~ Louise Nevelson
“I think most artists create out of despair. The very nature of creation is not a performing glory on the outside, it's a painful, difficult search within.” ~ Louise Nevelson