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Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016

Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles

13 March 16 - 4 September 16

Hauser Wirth & Schimmel is pleased to present ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016,’ the inaugural exhibition at its new complex in the heart of the downtown Los Angeles Arts District. Through nearly 100 works made by 34 artists over the past seventy years, this ambitious undertaking traces ways in which women have changed the course of art by deftly transforming the language of sculpture since the postwar period. Works on view reveal their makers inventing radically new forms and processes that privilege solo studio practice, tactility, and the idiosyncrasies of the artist’s own hand. ‘Revolution in the Making’ explores multiple strains of artistic approaches, characterized by abstraction and repetition, that reject the precedent of a monolithic masterwork on a pedestal, employing such tactics as stacking, hanging, and intertwining, to create an intimate reciprocity between artist and viewer. The exhibition examines how elements that are central to art today – including engagement with found, experimental, and recycled materials, as well as an embrace of contingency, imperfection, and unstructured play – were propelled by the work of women who, in seeking new means to express their own voices, dramatically expanded the definition of sculpture.

On view through 4 September 2016, ‘Revolution in the Making’ is co-curated by Paul Schimmel, former chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and Partner and Vice President at Hauser & Wirth; and Jenni Sorkin, art historian, critic, and Assistant Professor of Contemporary Art History at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

‘Revolution in the Making’ includes many works on loan from nearly 60 major American museums, artists’ estates, and private collections, as well as new sculptures commissioned for the exhibition. The show is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue published in collaboration with Skira. This book includes original contributions by Jenni Sorkin, as well as Elizabeth A.T. Smith, Executive Director of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, and former Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; and Anne M. Wagner, art historian, critic, and Class of 1936 Professor emerita, University of California, Berkeley.

Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Louise Bourgeois: Art © The Easton Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Louise Bourgeois: Art © The Easton Foundation/Licensed by
VAGA, New York, NY
Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Louise Bourgeois: Art © The Easton Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Louise Bourgeois: Art © The Easton Foundation/Licensed by
VAGA, New York, NY
Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Louise Bourgeois, Untitled (The Wedges) 1950 Wood, painted, and stainless steel 63 × 13 1/2 × 12 in / 160 × 34.3 × 30.5 cm Collection The Easton Foundation
Louise Bourgeois, Untitled (The Wedges)
1950, Wood, painted, and stainless steel
63 × 13 1/2 × 12 in / 160 × 34.3 × 30.5 cm
Collection The Easton Foundation
Lee Bontecou Untitled 1964 Welded steel, canvas, velvet hooks, grommets, sockets, velveteen, pipe fittings, fiberglass, corduroy, spark plugs, paint, and wire 72 x 80 in / 182.9 x 203.2 cm © Lee Bontecou Honolulu Museum of Art Purchase, 1968 (35451) Photo: Shuzo Uemoto, Honolulu Museum of Art
Lee Bontecou
Untitled
1964, Welded steel, canvas, velvet hooks, grommets, sockets, velveteen,
pipe fittings, fiberglass, corduroy, spark plugs, paint, and wire, 72 x 80 in / 182.9 x 203.2 cm
© Lee Bontecou, Honolulu Museum of Art Purchase, 1968 (35451)
Photo: Shuzo Uemoto, Honolulu Museum of Art
Ruth Asawa Untitled [S.334, Hanging Fifteen-Lobed (Seven Open and Eight Interlocking) Continuous Form] ca. 1955 Looped copper wire 134 x 8 x 8 in / 340.36 x 20.32 x 20.32 cm © Estate of Ruth Asawa Estate of Ruth Asawa, courtesy Christie’s Photo: Laurence Cuneo © 2015
Ruth Asawa
Untitled [S.334, Hanging Fifteen-Lobed (Seven Open and Eight
Interlocking) Continuous Form], ca. 1955
Looped copper wire, 134 x 8 x 8 in / 340.36 x 20.32 x 20.32 cm
© Estate of Ruth Asawa, Estate of Ruth Asawa, courtesy Christie’s
Photo: Laurence Cuneo © 2015
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Sheila Hicks, Banisteriopsis, 1965 – 1966 and Banisteriopsis II, 1965 – 1966 / 2010 (Banisteriopsis) The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Liliane and David M. Stewart Collection (Banisteriopsis II) The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; Gift of the artist in honour of Jenelle Porter, 2012.26 Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Sheila Hicks, Banisteriopsis, 1965 – 1966 and Banisteriopsis II,
1965 – 1966 / 2010, (Banisteriopsis) The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Liliane and
David M. Stewart Collection
(Banisteriopsis II) The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; Gift of the artist in honour of Jenelle Porter, 2012.26
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Jackie Winsor, 30 to 1 Bound Trees, 1971 – 1972 / 2016 © Jackie Winsor. Courtesy Paul Cooper Gallery, New York and Hauser & Wirth Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Jackie Winsor, 30 to 1 Bound Trees, 1971 – 1972 / 2016
© Jackie Winsor. Courtesy Paul Cooper Gallery, New York and
Hauser & Wirth
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Magdalena Abakanowicz, Wheel with Rope, 1973 National Museum in Wroclaw (Poland) Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Magdalena Abakanowicz, Wheel with Rope, 1973
National Museum in Wroclaw (Poland)
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
(Wall) Eva Hesse, Aught, 1968 University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive; gift of Mrs. Helen Charash (Floor) Eva Hesse, Augment, 1968 Private Collection, Germany Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the Estate of Eva Hesse and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
(Wall)
Eva Hesse, Aught, 1968
University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive; gift of Mrs. Helen Charash
(Floor)
Eva Hesse, Augment, 1968, Private Collection, Germany
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the Estate of Eva Hesse and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Lynda Benglis: Art © Lynda Benglis/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY. Courtesy Cheim & Read, New York Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Lynda Benglis: Art © Lynda Benglis/Licensed by VAGA, New
York, NY. Courtesy Cheim & Read, New York
Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest

 

Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Hannah Wilke: © Marsie, Emmanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles/ Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Hannah Wilke: © Marsie, Emmanuelle, Damon and Andrew
Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles/
Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Heidi Bucher Dragonfly ca 1976 Textile, latex, Mother-of-pearl pigments Approx: 246 x 295 x 15 cm / 96 7/8 x 116 1/8 x 5 7/8 in © Heidi Bucher Courtesy The Estate of Heidi Bucher and Freymond-Guth Fine Arts
Heidi Bucher
Dragonfly
ca 1976, Textile, latex, Mother-of-pearl pigments
Approx: 246 x 295 x 15 cm / 96 7/8 x 116 1/8 x 5 7/8 in
© Heidi Bucher
Courtesy The Estate of Heidi Bucher and Freymond-Guth Fine Arts
Yayoi Kusama A Snake 1974 Mixed media 30.5 x 650.2 x 25.4 cm / 12 x 256 x 10 in Private Collection, USA © Yayoi Kusama Courtesy of Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco Photo: Michael Bodycomb, New York
Yayoi Kusama
A Snake
1974, Mixed media, 30.5 x 650.2 x 25.4 cm / 12 x 256 x 10 in
Private Collection, USA, © Yayoi Kusama
Courtesy of Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco
Photo: Michael Bodycomb, New York
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Marisa Merz Untitled 1980 Copper wire 240 x 280 cm / 94 1/2 x 110 1/4 in © Marisa Merz Collection of the artist, courtesy Fondazione Merz, Turin Photo: Renato Ghiazz
Marisa Merz
Untitled
1980, Copper wire, 240 x 280 cm / 94 1/2 x 110 1/4 in
© Marisa Merz, Collection of the artist, courtesy Fondazione Merz, Turin
Photo: Renato Ghiazz
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest

 

Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Sonia Gomes Pendente 2 2016 Stitching, bindings, different fabrics and laces on wire and rope 600 x 80 x 80 cm / 236 1/4 x 31 1/2 x 31 1/2 in © Sonia Gomes Courtesy Mendes Wood DM, São Paulo, Brazil
Sonia Gomes
Pendente 2
2016
Stitching, bindings, different fabrics and laces on wire and rope
600 x 80 x 80 cm / 236 1/4 x 31 1/2 x 31 1/2 in
© Sonia Gomes
Courtesy Mendes Wood DM, São Paulo, Brazil
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artists and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Phyllida Barlow, untitled: pianoframeandcover, 2014 Phyllida Barlow, untitled: GIG, 2014 – 2015 Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Phyllida Barlow, untitled: pianoframeandcover, 2014
Phyllida Barlow, untitled: GIG, 2014 – 2015
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Shinique Smith, Forgiving Strands, 2015 – 2016 Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Shinique Smith, Forgiving Strands, 2015 – 2016
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Abigail DeVille, Intersection, 2014 Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Abigail DeVille, Intersection, 2014
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016 Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo: Brian Forrest
Installation view, ‘Revolution in the Making, Abstract Sculpture by
Women, 1947 – 2016’, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, 2016
Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Photo: Brian Forrest

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