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Louise Nevelson

Untitled, 1976-78. wood painted black, 40" x 89-1/2" x 9" (101.6 cm x 227.3 cm x 22.9 cm).

Untitled, 1976-78. wood painted black, 40" x 89-1/2" x 9" (101.6 cm x 227.3 cm x 22.9 cm).

Small Cities IX, 1978-1985. wood painted black, 13" x 13-1/2" x 9" (33 cm x 34.3 cm x 22.9 cm).

Small Cities IX, 1978-1985. wood painted black, 13" x 13-1/2" x 9" (33 cm x 34.3 cm x 22.9 cm).

Mirror-Shadow Column, 1987. wood painted black, 18-3/8" x 5-3/8" x 5-3/8" (46.7 cm x 13.7 cm x 13.7 cm).

Mirror-Shadow Column, 1987. wood painted black, 18-3/8" x 5-3/8" x 5-3/8" (46.7 cm x 13.7 cm x 13.7 cm).

Mirror-Shadow Column, 1987. wood painted black, 21-3/4" x 5-3/8" x 5-3/8" (55.2 cm x 13.7 cm x 13.7 cm).

Mirror-Shadow Column, 1987. wood painted black, 21-3/4" x 5-3/8" x 5-3/8" (55.2 cm x 13.7 cm x 13.7 cm).

Untitled, 1985. wood painted black, 56" x 26" x 8" (142.2 cm x 66 cm x 20.3 cm).

Untitled, 1985. wood painted black, 56" x 26" x 8" (142.2 cm x 66 cm x 20.3 cm).

Untitled, 1973. wood painted black, 39" x 36" x 8" (99.1 cm x 91.4 cm x 20.3 cm).

Untitled, 1973. wood painted black, 39" x 36" x 8" (99.1 cm x 91.4 cm x 20.3 cm).

Cascades-Perpendiculars II (Night Music), 1980-82. wood painted black, 82" x 33" x 38" (208.3 cm x 83.8 cm x 96.5 cm).

Cascades-Perpendiculars II (Night Music), 1980-82. wood painted black, 82" x 33" x 38" (208.3 cm x 83.8 cm x 96.5 cm).

Untitled, 1985. paint and wood, 62" x 33" x 4" (157.5 cm x 83.8 cm x 10.2 cm).

Untitled, 1985. paint and wood, 62" x 33" x 4" (157.5 cm x 83.8 cm x 10.2 cm).

Untitled, c. late 1970s. wood painted black, 9' 11" x 11' 10" x 1' 11" (302.3 cm x 360.7 cm x 58.4 cm), 14 elements plus 2 part base, 16 elements total.

Untitled, c. late 1970s. wood painted black, 9' 11" x 11' 10" x 1' 11" (302.3 cm x 360.7 cm x 58.4 cm), 14 elements plus 2 part base, 16 elements total.

Colonne II, 1959. wood painted black, 9' 1/4" x 20" x 20" (275 cm x 50.8 cm x 50.8 cm).

Colonne II, 1959. wood painted black, 9' 1/4" x 20" x 20" (275 cm x 50.8 cm x 50.8 cm).

Dark Cryptic XXV, 1975. black painted wood, 3-1/2" x 15-3/4" x 15-3/4" (8.9 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm), closed 15-3/4" x 31-1/2" x 1-3/4" (40 cm x 80 cm x 4.4 cm), open.

Dark Cryptic XXV, 1975. black painted wood, 3-1/2" x 15-3/4" x 15-3/4" (8.9 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm), closed 15-3/4" x 31-1/2" x 1-3/4" (40 cm x 80 cm x 4.4 cm), open.

Untitled, 1976-1978. wood painted black, 95-5/8" x 39-1/2" x 23-1/2" (242.9 cm x 100.3 cm x 59.7 cm).

Untitled, 1976-1978. wood painted black, 95-5/8" x 39-1/2" x 23-1/2" (242.9 cm x 100.3 cm x 59.7 cm).

Louise Nevelson Mirror Shadow XXXXII, 1987. wood painted black, 53 x 98 x 16".

Louise Nevelson Mirror Shadow XXXXII, 1987. wood painted black, 53 x 98 x 16".

Louise Nevelson Maquette for Night Wall I, 1976-79. welded steel, 31-1/2 x 27 x 9-3/4" (80 x 68.6 x 24.8 cm).

Louise Nevelson Maquette for Night Wall I, 1976-79. welded steel, 31-1/2 x 27 x 9-3/4" (80 x 68.6 x 24.8 cm).

Louise Nevelson City Series, 1974. wood painted black, 8' 1/2" x 8' 4-1/4" x 2-1/2" (245.1 cm x 253.7 cm x 6.4 cm), 3 panels, overall installed8' 1/2" x 2' 9-3/8" x 2-1/4" (245.7 cm x 84.5 cm x 5.7 cm), left8' 5/8" x 2' 9-3/8" x 2-1/2" (245.7 cm x 84.5 cm x 4.4 cm), center 8' 3/4" x 2' 9-1/2" x 2-1/4" (238.1 cm x 84.5 cm x 5.7 cm), right.

Louise Nevelson City Series, 1974. wood painted black, 8' 1/2" x 8' 4-1/4" x 2-1/2" (245.1 cm x 253.7 cm x 6.4 cm), 3 panels, overall installed8' 1/2" x 2' 9-3/8" x 2-1/4" (245.7 cm x 84.5 cm x 5.7 cm), left8' 5/8" x 2' 9-3/8" x 2-1/2" (245.7 cm x 84.5 cm x 4.4 cm), center 8' 3/4" x 2' 9-1/2" x 2-1/4" (238.1 cm x 84.5 cm x 5.7 cm), right.

Moon-Star Zag XII, 1981. wood painted black, 43" x 58" x 10-3/4" (109.2 cm x 147.3 cm x 27.3 cm).

Moon-Star Zag XII, 1981. wood painted black, 43" x 58" x 10-3/4" (109.2 cm x 147.3 cm x 27.3 cm).

Louise Nevelson Maquette for Dawn Shadows, 1976-1983. welded steel, painted black, 30-1/2" x 31" x 26-1/4" (77.5 cm x 78.7 cm x 66.7 cm).

Louise Nevelson Maquette for Dawn Shadows, 1976-1983. welded steel, painted black, 30-1/2" x 31" x 26-1/4" (77.5 cm x 78.7 cm x 66.7 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1976-78. wood painted black, 82-1/4" x 45-1/2" x 7" (208.9 cm x 115.6 cm x 17.8 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1976-78. wood painted black, 82-1/4" x 45-1/2" x 7" (208.9 cm x 115.6 cm x 17.8 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1976-78. wood painted black, 80-1/4" x 43-1/4" x 9-1/2" (203.8 cm x 109.9 cm x 24.1 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1976-78. wood painted black, 80-1/4" x 43-1/4" x 9-1/2" (203.8 cm x 109.9 cm x 24.1 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1959. cardboard, foil, newsprint, paper and wood collage on board, 36" x 48" (91.4 cm x 121.9 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1959. cardboard, foil, newsprint, paper and wood collage on board, 36" x 48" (91.4 cm x 121.9 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1955. cardboard, foil, paint, pencil, sandpaper and wood collage on board, 44" x 36" (111.8 cm x 91.4 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1955. cardboard, foil, paint, pencil, sandpaper and wood collage on board, 44" x 36" (111.8 cm x 91.4 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1957. cardboard, newsprint, paint, terry cloth and wood collage on board, 40" x 30" (101.6 cm x 76.2 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1957. cardboard, newsprint, paint, terry cloth and wood collage on board, 40" x 30" (101.6 cm x 76.2 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1976. wood painted black, 66" x 39" x 5-3/4" (167.6 cm x 99.1 cm x 14.6 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1976. wood painted black, 66" x 39" x 5-3/4" (167.6 cm x 99.1 cm x 14.6 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1959. cardboard, foil, newsprint, paper and wood collage on board, 40" x 32" (101.6 cm x 81.3 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1959. cardboard, foil, newsprint, paper and wood collage on board, 40" x 32" (101.6 cm x 81.3 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1958. ball point pen, cardboard, paint and paper collage on board, 44-1/4" x 21-1/4" (112.4 cm x 54 cm).

Louise Nevelson Untitled, 1958. ball point pen, cardboard, paint and paper collage on board, 44-1/4" x 21-1/4" (112.4 cm x 54 cm).

Louise Nevelson Sky Cathedral - Moon Garden + One, 1957-1960. wood painted black, 109" x 130" x 19" (276.9 cm x 330.2 cm x 48.3 cm).

Louise Nevelson Sky Cathedral - Moon Garden + One, 1957-1960. wood painted black, 109" x 130" x 19" (276.9 cm x 330.2 cm x 48.3 cm).

Louise Nevelson Large Cryptic VIII, 1970. wood painted black, 9-1/2" x 13-1/2" x 9-1/2" (24.1 cm x 34.3 cm x 24.1 cm).

Louise Nevelson Large Cryptic VIII, 1970. wood painted black, 9-1/2" x 13-1/2" x 9-1/2" (24.1 cm x 34.3 cm x 24.1 cm).

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About Louise Nevelson

Louise Nevelson (b. 1899, Kiev; d. 1988, New York), a leading sculptor of the twentieth century, pioneered site-specific and installation art. She is recognized for her sculptures of unified box-like structures that are comprised of discarded furniture and other wood elements found in the area surrounding her studio, and painted in monochromatic black, white, or gold. She also experimented with bronze, terracotta, and Plexiglas, as well as collage, works on paper, and the realm of public art. With her compositions, Nevelson explored the relational possibilities of sculpture, summing up the objectification of the external world into a personal landscape. Although her practice is situated in lineage with Cubism and Constructivism, her sense of space and interest in the transcendence of the object reveal an affinity with Abstract Expressionism.

Featured in over 400 group exhibitions, Nevelson represented the United States at the Venice Biennale in 1962 and was also included in the 1976 edition of the Biennale. In addition to Sixteen Americans, other prominent group exhibitions include The Art of Assemblage, The Museum of Modern Art, New York (1961); the Carnegie International, Pittsburgh (1958, 1961, 1964, 1970); and Documenta, Kassel (1964, 1968).

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Press Release

  • Louise Nevelson

    London—Pace London is pleased to announce an exhibition of works by Louise Nevelson, surveying the artist’s practice from the mid-1950s until her death in 1988. The exhibition will be on view from 8 June to 16 July 2016 at 6 Burlington Gardens and is the fourth solo presentation of the artist’s work ever in London and the first since 2009.

    Louise Nevelson was an iconic and vital figure in post-war New York, regarded for her groundbreaking sculptural environments as much as her persona, which was captured in memorable photographs by Cecil Beaton.

    Nevelson created her first assemblages in the mid-1950s, and quickly made an impact in the New York art scene with her pioneering approach to sculpture. Inspired by Cubism, Nevelson took scraps of wood and other materials found on the street near her studio and assembled them into free-standing and wall-mounted sculpture that she would paint a solid colour—most famously, black or white.

    Nevelson’s sculptures range from small assemblages to free-standing columns and monumental wall-based works consisting of multiple small compartments. Although the physical form of the scraps remains unchanged in her work, Nevelson subsumes them in an entire system, creating a unified whole from disparate parts. She insisted on the psychological and expressive virtue of her work, which was illustrative of a highly personal cosmology rooted in light and shadow.

    The artist’s early collages, produced at a smaller size than most of her sculptures, provide important insight into her thinking and working process and the importance of wood in her work. Mostly unpainted, the collages reveal Nevelson’s use of raw materials, demonstrating an organisational logic that continues in her larger work as well.

    In addition to Nevelson’s iconic black monochrome sculptures, the exhibition will also include steel maquettes Nevelson produced for public sculptures, now exhibited in Chicago and at Harvard University. These works, intended to be seen in the round, exemplify the heightened architectural quality of her work in the later decades of her career.

    The exhibition coincides with Pace New York’s presentation of Blackness in Abstraction, a major exhibition organised by Adrienne Edwards, a curator at Performa and curator-at-large at the Walker Art Center. The exhibition considers the eponymous theme, treating Nevelson and her expressive treatment of black as a historic anchor for subsequent generations of artists.

    Next autumn, Thames & Hudson will publish Louise Nevelson: Light and Shadow, by Laurie Wilson.

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