A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Continuous (S.340, Hanging, Miniature Single-Lobed, Three Layered Continuous Form within a Form), dated 1981 to 1982.
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Continuous (S.340, Hanging, Miniature Single-Lobed, Three Layered Continuous Form within a Form), dated 1981 to 1982.

Ruth Asawa

David Zwirner is pleased to announce the gallery's first exhibition dedicated to the work of Ruth Asawa since having announced the representation of the artist's estate earlier this year, which will take place at the 537 West 20th Street location. The exhibition will bring together a selection of key sculptures, paintings, and works on paper spanning Asawa's influential practice, as well as rare archival materials, including a group of vintage photographs of the artist and her work by Imogen Cunningham. 

Born in rural California, Asawa began to make art while detained in internment camps for Japanese Americans at Santa Anita, California, and Rohwer, Arkansas, where she was sent with her family in 1942-1943. Following her release, she enrolled in Milwaukee State Teachers College, eventually making her way to Black Mountain College in North Carolina in 1946, then known for its progressive pedagogical methods and avant-garde aesthetic milieu. Asawa's time at Black Mountain proved formative in her development as an artist, and she was influenced there in particular by her teachers Josef Albers, Buckminster Fuller, and the mathematician Max Dehn.

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Ruth Asawa, Continuous (S.340, Hanging, Miniature Single-Lobed, Three Layered Continuous Form within a Form), c. 1981-1982

Location
537 West 20th Street New York
Dates
September 13—October 21, 2017
Artist
Ruth Asawa
Press Release
In The News
Ruth Asawa
Installation view of the exhibition Ruth Asawa, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
Installation view of the exhibition Ruth Asawa, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
Installation view of the exhibition Ruth Asawa, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
Installation view of the exhibition Ruth Asawa, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
Installation view of the exhibition Ruth Asawa, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
An installation view of the Ruth Asawa exhibition, at David Zwirner New York, dated 2017.
A work on paper by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (BMC.76, BMC laundry stamp), dated 1948 to 1949.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (BMC.76, BMC laundry stamp), c. 1948-1949
Ink on paper
28 7/8 x 22 7/8 inches (73.3 x 58.1 cm)
A work on paper by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (SF.046b, Plain Potato Print in Blue and Orange), dated 1951 to 1952.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (SF.046b, Plain Potato Print in Blue and Orange), 1951-1952
Ink on paper
21 x 17 inches (53.3 x 43.2 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.693, Hanging Six-Lobed, Two-Part, Complex Form within a Form with One Suspended..., dated circa 1956.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.693, Hanging Six Lobed, Two-Part, Complex Form within a Form with One Suspended Sphere in the Top Lobe), c. 1956
Hanging sculpture—brass and iron wire
72 1/4 x 15 x 15 inches (183.5 x 38.1 x 38.1 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.030, Hanging Eight Separate Cones Suspended Through Their Centers), dated circa 1952.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.030, Hanging Eight Separate Cones Suspended Through Their Centers), c. 1952
Hanging sculpture—iron wire
76 x 24 x 24 inches (193 x 61 x 61 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.154, Hanging Nine-Lobed, Single-Layered Continuous Form), dated circa 1952.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.154, Hanging Nine-Lobed, Single-Layered Continuous Form), c. 1952
Hanging sculpture—Monel wire
111 x 15 x 15 inches (281.9 x 38.1 x 38.1 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.407, Hanging, Five-Lobed, Continuous Form within a Form with Two Spheres), dated circa 1952.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.407, Hanging, Five-Lobed, Continuous Form within a Form with Two Spheres), c. 1952
Hanging sculpture—brass and steel wire
61 1/2 x 15 x 15 inches (156.2 x 38.1 x 38.1 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.563, Hanging Six Lobed Form with Two Interior Spheres), dated 1956.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.563, Hanging Six Lobed Form with Two Interior Spheres), 1956
Hanging sculpture—enameled copper and iron wire
87 x 18 x 18 inches (221 x 45.7 x 45.7 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.563, Hanging Six Lobed Form with Two Interior Spheres), dated 1956.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.310, Hanging Five-Lobed Continuous Form Within a Form with Spheres in the 2nd, 3rd, and Bottom Lobes), c. 1954
Hanging sculpture—copper and brass wire
64 x 15 x 15 inches (162.6 x 38.1 x 38.1 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.563, Hanging Six Lobed Form with Two Interior Spheres), dated 1956.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.564, Hanging Sphere with a Suspended Interior Sphere), 1956
Hanging sculpture—brass and iron wire
8 1/2 x 10 x 10 inches (21.6 x 25.4 x 25.4 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.563, Hanging Six Lobed Form with Two Interior Spheres), dated 1956.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.156, Hanging Sphere with a Suspended Interior Sphere), c. 1952
Hanging sculpture—copper and brass wire
13 x 18 x 18 1/2 inches (33 x 45.7 x 47 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.563, Hanging Six Lobed Form with Two Interior Spheres), dated 1956.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.341, Hanging Two Interlocking Double Cones), c. 1950-1953
Hanging sculpture—iron wire
17 x 12 x 12 inches (43.2 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.322, Hanging Two Interlocking Cones), dated circa 1950 to 1953.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.322, Hanging Two Interlocking Cones), c. 1950-1953
Hanging sculpture—iron wire
13 x 18 x 17 inches (33 x 45.7 x 43.2 cm)

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.142, Hanging Five-Lobed, Multi-Layer Continuous Form within a Form), 1990
Hanging sculpture—oxidized copper wire
54 x 14 x 14 inches (137.2 x 35.6 x 35.6 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.479, Hanging Tied Wire, Closed Center Double Sided Multibranched Form Based on Nature), dated 1963.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.479, Hanging Tied Wire, Closed Center Double Sided Multibranched Form Based on Nature), 1963
Hanging sculpture—brass and copper wire with glass
11 x 12 x 11 inches (27.9 x 30.5 x 27.9 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.582, Hanging Sphere), dated circa 1956.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.582, Hanging Sphere), c. 1956
Hanging sculpture—copper and brass wire
5 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches (14.0 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.598, Hanging Sphere), dated circa 1960 to 1969.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.598, Hanging Sphere), c. 1960-1969
Hanging sculpture—brass wire
6 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches (15.2 x 14 x 14 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.015, Hanging, Two Interlocked Spheres with a Small Sphere in the Center), dated circa 1980 to 1989.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.015, Hanging, Two Interlocked Spheres with a Small Sphere in the Center), c. 1980-1989
Hanging sculpture—oxidized copper wire
16 x 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches (40.6 x 29.2 x 29.2 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.788, Hanging Sphere), dated circa 1980 to 1989.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.788, Hanging Sphere), c. 1960-1969
Hanging sculpture—brass wire
3 1/2 x 3 x 3 inches (8.9 x 7.6 x 7.6 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.492, Hanging Sphere), dated circa 1950 to 1959.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.492, Hanging Sphere), c. 1950-1959
Hanging sculpture—gold-plated copper wire
5 x 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches (12.7 x 13.3 x 13.3 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Continuous (S.340, Hanging, Miniature Single-Lobed, Three Layered Continuous Form within a Form), dated circa 1981 to 1982.

Ruth Asawa

Continuous (S.340, Hanging, Miniature Single-Lobed, Three Layered Continuous Form within a Form), c. 1981-19823 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 4
Hanging sculpture—gold-filled wire
3 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches (8.9 x 11.4 x 11.4 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.525, Hanging, Miniature Nine-Lobed Single Layer Continuous Form with Sphere in Top Lobe), dated circa 1980 to 1989.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.525, Hanging, Miniature Nine-Lobed Single Layer Continuous Form with Sphere in Top Lobe), c. 1980-1989
Hanging sculpture—copper wire
29 x 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches (73.7 x 9.5 x 9.5 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (SF.028a, Triangle Study), dated circa 1951 to 1952.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (SF.028a, Triangle Study), c. 1951-1952
Pencil on paper
17 5/8 x 15 1/8 inches (44.8 x 38.4 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.453, Hanging, Three Lobed, Three-Layered Continuous Form within a Form), dated circa 1957 to 1959.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.453, Hanging, Three Lobed, Three-Layered Continuous Form within a Form), c. 1957-1959
Hanging sculpture—iron wire
41 1/4 x 16 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches (104.1 x 41.9 x 41.9 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.065, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Multi-Layer Continuous Form within a Form), dated circa 1960 to 1963.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.065, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Multi-Layer Continuous Form within a Form), c. 1960-1963
Hanging sculpture—oxidized copper and brass wire
94 x 17 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches (238.8 x 44.5 x 44.5 cm)
A painting on Masonite by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (BMC.95, In and Out), circa 1946-1949.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (BMC.95, In and Out), c. 1946-1949
Oil on Masonite
16 1/2 x 19 1/4 x 2 inches (41.9 x 48.9 cm)
An oil on paper artwork by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (BMC.92, In and Out), dated circa 1946-1949.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (BMC.92, In and Out), c. 1946-1949
Oil on paper
19 x 17 x 1 3/8 inches (48.3 x 43.2 x 3.5 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.752, Hanging, Single Lobe, Five-Layered, Continuous Form Within a Form), dated circa 1950 to 1959.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.752, Hanging, Single Lobe, Five-Layered, Continuous Form Within a Form), c. 1950-1959
Hanging sculpture—oxidized copper wire
23 x 23 x 23 inches (58.4 x 58.4 x 58.4 cm)
An untitled photograph by Imogen Cunningham, dated 1952.

Untitled, 1952
Gelatin silver print
31 1/8 x 24 1/4 inches (79.1 x 61.6 cm)
An untitled photograph by Imogen Cunningham, dated 1952.

Imogen Cunningham

Untitled, 1952
Gelatin silver print
16 1/4 x 12 3/4 inches (41.3 x 32.4 cm)
A photograph by Imogen Cunningham, titled Ruth Asawa's Wire Baskets and Their Shadows, dated 1956.

Imogen Cunningham

Ruth Asawa's Wire Baskets and Their Shadows, 1956
Gelatin silver print
16 7/8 x 14 7/8 inches (42.9 x 37.8 cm)
An untitled photograph by Imogen Cunningham, dated circa 1963.

Imogen Cunningham

Untitled, 1963
Gelatin silver print
16 7/8 x 15 inches (42.9 x 38.1 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.383, Wall-Mounted Tied Wire, Open-Center, Six-Pointed Star, with Six Branches), dated circa 1967.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.383, Wall-Mounted Tied Wire, Open-Center, Six-Pointed Star, with Six Branches), c. 1967
Hanging sculpture—bronze wire
46 x 46 x 6 inches (116.8 x 116.8 x 15.2 cm)
A drawing by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (SD.019, Tied wire sculpture drawing with five point star center and drops at the ends), undated.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (SD.019, Tied wire sculpture drawing with five point star center and drops at the ends), n.d.
Ink on watercolor paper
22 3/4 x 27 3/4 inches (57.8 x 70.5 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.272, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Continuous Interwoven Form, with Spheres within Two Lobes), dated circa 1954.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.272, Hanging Seven-Lobed, Continuous Interwoven Form, with Spheres within Two Lobes), c. 1954
Hanging sculpture—copper and iron wire
111 x 14 x 14 inches (281.9 x 35.6 x 35.6 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.070, Wall-Mounted Tied Wire, Open-Center, Five-Branched Form Based on Nature), dated 1988.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.070, Wall-Mounted Tied Wire, Open-Center, Five-Branched Form Based on Nature), 1988
Hanging sculpture—brass wire
45 x 44 x 12 inches (114.3 x 111.8 x 30.5 cm)
An untitled sculpture by Ruth Asawa, dated 1951.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.535, Hanging Five Lobed Continuous Form within a Form and Two Interior Spheres and One Teardrop Form), 1951
Hanging sculpture—iron and brass wire
87 x 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches (221 x 31.8 x 31.8 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.335, Hanging 4 1/2 Open Hyperbolic Shapes that Penetrate Each Other), dated circa 1954.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.335, Hanging 4 1/2 Open Hyperbolic Shapes that Penetrate Each Other), c. 1954
Hanging sculpture—iron wire and paint
95 1/2 x 20 x 20 inches (242.6 x 50.8 x 50.8 cm)
A sculpture by Ruth Asawa, titled Untitled (S.089, Hanging Asymmetrical Twelve Interlocked Bubbles), dated circa 1958.

Ruth Asawa

Untitled (S.089, Hanging Asymmetrical Eleven Interlocked Bubbles), c. 1958
Hanging sculpture—galvanized steel, brass, and iron wire
26 x 22 x 17 inches (66.0 x 55.9 x 43.2 cm)

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