1975
Louise Nevelson was one of the leading American female sculptors of the 20th century, and she did it on her own terms. She was a pioneer of installation art and created large-scale monochromatic sculptures that are today known for their provocative, compartmentalized forms. While her assemblages involved a range of materials, she is best known for her wooden sculptures. Working in a single color was her signature, and all-encompassing color demanded an all-encompassing focus for this artist — she even kept separate studios for work in black, white and gold.
Nevelson was born in what is now Ukraine in 1899 and emigrated to the United States with her family in 1905. She moved to New York City as a young woman in 1920 to study at the Art Students League. In the 1930s, Nevelson traveled around Europe, came into contact with the works of Picasso, studied with Hans Hofmann and assisted Diego Rivera in New York City.
Nevelson had her first solo show in 1941 at the Nierendorf Gallery in New York. In the late 1940s, she studied with Stanley William Hayter and worked as a ceramicist in the workshop of revered furniture designer Vladimir Kagan, who let her take scraps from the factory to use in her sculptures. (As a child, Nevelson had also worked with discarded wood from her father's lumber yard.)
By the early 1950s, Nevelson had traveled to Guatemala and Mexico. She was inspired by pre-Columbian art and the totemic works of ancient cultures. Nevelson began creating the first of her iconic wood sculptures and later participated in the legendary “Sixteen Americans” exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. Her work was acquired by prominent institutions in the years that followed.
Nevelson made reliefs in shadow boxes and was for a time affiliated with New York City’s Sidney Janis Gallery as its first female Abstract Expressionist artist (her work was abstract but she also drew on the Cubist and Constructivist movements). In the early 1960s, Nevelson showed her art in Chicago, Manhattan, Paris and West Germany. It was around this time that she exhibited at Pace Gallery in Boston and New York. The gallery represented her for the duration of her career.
Nevelson died in 1988, but her legacy is immense. Her work is held in virtually every major American art museum, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. Her permanent large-scale public sculptures are installed all over the country, including in Louise Nevelson Plaza in New York City's Financial District.
On 1stDibs, find original Louise Nevelson sculptures, prints and drawings.
Untitled (Gold) & Untitled (White) - 2 works
By Louise Nevelson
Located in New York, NY
Two color screenprints printed on black wove paper, both very good impressions with strong colors. Both signed, dated and numbered 6/14 and 2/20 in pencil.
Color, Screen
Sérigraphie No. 18
By Pierre Soulages
Located in New York, NY
A superb impression of this color screenprint on white wove paper. Signed and numbered XC/CCC in pencil by Soulages. Published by the Olympic Games Committee, Lausanne. From the "Off...
Color, Screen
Concord
By James Brooks
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color screenprint on white wove paper. Signed, dated and numbered 83/200 in pencil. Printed by Styria Studio, Inc., New York, with the blind stamp lowe...
Color, Screen
Delos
By Robert Motherwell
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color lithograph on TGL handmade paper. Initialed and numbered 6/40 in pencil. Printed and published by Tyler Graphics, Ltd., Mount Kisco, with the bli...
Handmade Paper, Color, Lithograph
Interaction of Color
By Josef Albers
Located in New York, NY
Portfolio with complete text folder, bound text volume and 80 color screenprints, loose as issued. The German edition. Published in 1973 by Josef Keller, Starnberg. Original cream p...
Color, Screen
Egyptian Theme
By Dorothy Dehner
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color screenprint on white wove paper. Full margins - sheet size: 20" x26". Signed and dated in pencil in lower right margin. Titled and numbered (96...
Color, Screen
UNTITLED
By Louise Nevelson
Located in Portland, ME
Nevelson, Louise. UNTITLED. Baro 36. Tamarind Number 801. Lithograph, 1963. Edition of 20, plus 2 Printer's Proofs, 1 Trial Proof, and 3 Artist's Proofs. Inscribed "Tamarind Impressi...
Lithograph
Untitled
By Louise Nevelson
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Caviar20 is excited to be offering this striking collage by the inimitable Louise Nevelson, who is regarded as one of the most original, influential, and successful American sculptors of the 20th century. Nevelson's enduring appeal lies in her distinct visual language, which is apparent in all of her works, regardless of medium. While her iconic monochromatic wood assemblages are instantly recognizable, she continuously experimented with diverse materials, including resin, steel, and bronze, as well as numerous printmaking techniques. Collage was an important part of Nevelson's practice, defining her signature aesthetic. Much like her approach to printmaking, her collages possess a sculptural ethos that transcends the two-dimensional surface, imbuing the composition with a remarkable sense of volume, texture, and depth. One could argue that Nevelson's sculpture was informed by collage in that she took assorted existing forms combining them in order to create an entirely new and distinct arrangement. This untitled collage is an exceptional example of the artist's mastery of the medium. Featuring an assemblage of wood veneer, mirror, and metal, this work reflects Nevelson's meticulous sense of form and rhythm. Subtle details, such as the alternating direction of the wood veneer grain further heighten the visual complexity of the otherwise minimal composition. The inclusion of wood veneer marks a notable shift for Nevelson, who was previously loyal to a strict monochromatic palette of black or white. It wasn’t until the 1970s with her experimentation in collage that she expanded her palette. Nevelson also created jewellery and this collage acknowledges her activity in that realm. Created at the age of 83 during the final chapter of her career, this piece powerfully captures Nevelson's enduring spirit and dedication to artistic innovation. Today Nevelson's work can be found in every major public collection across North America and beyond. Questions about this piece? Contact us. Visit our Toronto gallery on Thursdays or by appointment. "Untitled" USA, 1983 Mixed media collage Metal, mirror, wood, and wood veneer on grey mat board mounted on 0.25" Luan plywood Signed and dated by artist, bottom right Nevelson Estate no. LN 40830 19.5"H 15.75"W (work) 31"H 21"W (framed) Very good condition Literature: Stein, Judith. Louise Nevelson Collages...
Metal
Tropical Leaf
By Louise Nevelson
Located in Toronto, Ontario
As always, Caviar20 is thrilled to present the esteemed work of Louise Nevelson - one of the most revered and unique artists of the 20th century. Although Nevelson is best known f...
Woodcut
Moon Garden
By Louise Nevelson
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Caviar20 is thrilled to be offering the work of Louise Nevelson. "Moon Garden" is a superb example of one of her impressive molded reliefs in black paper pulp. Although Nevelson is...
Paper
Geometric Abstract Screenprint by Louise Nevelson
By Louise Nevelson
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Abstract Geometric screenprint by Louise Nevelson. This print is in Nevelson’s typical style, using layers of fragmented geometric shapes to create depth. Nevelson is best known f...
Screen
Louise Nevelson (1899-1988) - Screen printing on paper - 1968
By Louise Nevelson
Located in Varese, IT
"Night Reflections". Screen printing on paper, edited in 1968. Limited edition of 100 copies , numbered as 60/100 in lower left corner. Hand-signed by artist in pencil in the lower...
Paper, Screen
