Ruth Asawa: Citizen of the Universe

This display at Modern Art Oxford (28 May–21 August) reflects on the legacy of the American abstract sculptor Ruth Asawa. The show focuses on a formative period in the artist’s career between 1945–80, during which time Asawa developed her signature hanging sculptures. The display of woven wire pieces such as Continuous (c. 1981–82) reveals the intricacy of the technique learnt by the artist during a trip to Mexico City in 1947, while archive photographs of the artist at work provide an in-depth look at Asawa’s artistic process. With a focus on the importance of Asawa’s time at Black Mountain College from 1946–49, which established a lifelong passion to arts education, the exhibition goes on to explore Asawa’s involvement in educational projects, demonstrated by projects such as Milk Carton Sculptures which was developed to encourage children to work creatively with found materials. Find out more from Modern Art Oxford’s website. 

Preview below | View Apollo’s Art Diary here 

Ruth Asawa in her Dining room with Tied-Wire Sculpture (1963), Imogen Cunningham. Courtesy David Zwirner; © 2022 Imogen Cunningham Trust/2021 Ruth Asawa Lanier, Inc./ARS, NY and DACS

Untitled (BMC.76, BMC Laundry Stamp) (c. 1948–49), Ruth Asawa. Photo: Dan Bradica; courtesy David Zwirner; © 2021 Ruth Asawa Lanier, Inc./ARS, NY and DACS

Continuous (S.340, Hanging Miniature Single-Lobed, Three-Layered Continuous Form within a Form) (c. 1981–82), Ruth Asawa. Photo: Dan Bradica; courtesy David Zwirner; © 2021 Ruth Asawa Lanier, Inc./ARS, NY and DACS