Ruth Asawa (American, 1926-2013), Chair, 1965, Lithograph
Ruth Asawa (American, 1926-2013) was a Japanese American sculptor and printmaker who also became an influential advocate for arts education. After her family was forcibly incarcerated during World War II, she studied at Black Mountain College, where Josef Albers's emphasis on material and direct experimentation helped shape her approach. She became best known for hanging wire sculptures formed from repeated loops, creating open structures in which interior and exterior remain visible at once. Her drawings and lithographs apply the same patient attention to contour, often concentrating on plants or ordinary objects observed at close range. Asawa later helped establish community arts programs in San Francisco and supported the creation of the city's public arts high school. Her work is held by the Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (2)
Chair, 1965, lithograph from stone in black on Copperplate Deluxe paper by Ruth Asawa. A wicker armchair is rendered through tightly repeated woven and braided patterns, with its circular back, latticework seat, wrapped arms, and open lower framework echoed by many small white rectangular marks radiating across the surrounding black field. Asawa produced the work during her intensive 1965 fellowship at the Tamarind Lithography Workshop in Los Angeles, where she completed fifty-four lithographs in approximately two months. Printed by John Henry Rock and published by Tamarind, Chair is recorded as Tamarind catalogue no. 1558 and was issued in an edition of 20 with nine additional Tamarind impressions. This impression is inscribed in graphite "TAM IMP ASAWA" along the lower margin, identifying it as a Tamarind impression retained by the workshop outside the numbered edition, and bears Tamarind and printer blindstamps. The verso bears the "COPPERPLATE DELUXE PAPER" stamp and additional workshop notation. Sheet measures approximately 42.25 x 29.75 inches. The sheet shows light overall toning and handling with old tape remnants along the upper verso, minor edge wear and creasing; image presents well. Provenance of Martin and Enid Gleich.
Condition
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Dimensions
42.25 x 29.75 in
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Ruth Asawa (American, 1926-2013) was a Japanese American sculptor and printmaker who also became an influential advocate for arts education. After her family was forcibly incarcerated during World War II, she studied at Black Mountain College, where Josef Albers's emphasis on material and direct experimentation helped shape her approach. She became best known for hanging wire sculptures formed from repeated loops, creating open structures in which interior and exterior remain visible at once. Her drawings and lithographs apply the same patient attention to contour, often concentrating on plants or ordinary objects observed at close range. Asawa later helped establish community arts programs in San Francisco and supported the creation of the city's public arts high school. Her work is held by the Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. (2)
Chair, 1965, lithograph from stone in black on Copperplate Deluxe paper by Ruth Asawa. A wicker armchair is rendered through tightly repeated woven and braided patterns, with its circular back, latticework seat, wrapped arms, and open lower framework echoed by many small white rectangular marks radiating across the surrounding black field. Asawa produced the work during her intensive 1965 fellowship at the Tamarind Lithography Workshop in Los Angeles, where she completed fifty-four lithographs in approximately two months. Printed by John Henry Rock and published by Tamarind, Chair is recorded as Tamarind catalogue no. 1558 and was issued in an edition of 20 with nine additional Tamarind impressions. This impression is inscribed in graphite "TAM IMP ASAWA" along the lower margin, identifying it as a Tamarind impression retained by the workshop outside the numbered edition, and bears Tamarind and printer blindstamps. The verso bears the "COPPERPLATE DELUXE PAPER" stamp and additional workshop notation. Sheet measures approximately 42.25 x 29.75 inches. The sheet shows light overall toning and handling with old tape remnants along the upper verso, minor edge wear and creasing; image presents well. Provenance of Martin and Enid Gleich.
Condition
Please review the photos for a complete understanding of condition.
Dimensions
42.25 x 29.75 in
Sale price
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
