Louise Nevelson was born on September 23, 1900 in Kiev, Russia. Her family moved to the United States when she was very young. Louise grew up in Rockland, Maine and spent most of her younger years there. She married Charles Nevelson after she graduated from high school in 1918. She studied art during the years of her marriage, but this met with disapproval by her husband. After her divorce in 1931, she really began to study and create art.
Her sculptures were first shown in the 1930s. She is associated with several art periods, but became well known after embracing Abstract Expressionism. Louise began creating large, predominantly wooden "found object" pieces or assemblages typically painted jet black. Later she painted some in white and some in gold. Louise loved to use found objects or things that others threw away in her sculptures. She died on April 17, 1988 in New York City, New York where she had spent most of her adult life.
Look at the sculptures below by Louise Nevelson and see if you think you could find some found objects or recycle some materials to create your own relief sculpture or free standing one.
Mrs. N's Place
Night Leaf
Sky Cathedral
City on the High Mountain
