Ruth Asawa - Citizen of the Universe

Ruth Asawa - Citizen of the Universe, edited by Emma Ridgway and Vibece Salthe / ISBN 9780500025420 / 208-page paperback with flaps, 9.2 x 11 inches, published in 2022 by Thames & Hudson

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A triumphant illustrated volume on the art of abstract sculptor Ruth Asawa, examining her contributions to modern art and education.

Ruth Asawa is an artist of vital importance to modern art. Ruth Asawa: Citizen of the Universe, which accompanies the first public exhibition of Asawa’s work in Europe, introduces readers to Asawa’s work, including her signature hanging sculptures in looped and tied wire, and her pioneering education practice. It positions her expansive ethos―her self-identification as “a citizen of the universe” and belief that art education can be life enriching for everyone―as a catalyst for creative forward-thinking in the twenty-first century.

Focusing on a dynamic and formative period in her life from 1945 to 1980, this book gives readers a unique experience of the artist and her work, exploring her legacy and positioning her as an abstract sculptor crucial to American modernism. It is a wonderful celebration of her holistic integration of art, education, and community engagement, through which she called for a revolutionary and inclusive vision of art’s role in society.

125 illustrations