Harry Bertoia: Sculpting Mid-Century Modern Life

Harry Bertoia, an Italian-born American artist, was a prolific and innovative post-war artist who trained at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and went on to create jewelry, design iconic chairs, and create thousands of unique sculptures. His work speaks to the confluence of numerous fields of endeavor and is united by a sculptural approach to making and an experimental embrace of metal. Harry Bertoia: Sculpting Mid-Century Modern Life accompanies the first U.S. museum retrospective of the artist's career and features important examples of his furniture, jewelry, monotypes, and diverse sculptural output.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 22 March 2022
Publisher: Scheidegger und Spiess AG, Verlag

Harry Bertoia, an Italian-born American artist, emerged as one of the most prolific and innovative artists of the post-war era. His artistic journey began at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he formed connections with future colleagues and collaborators Charles and Ray Eames, Florence Knoll, and Eero Saarinen. During his time at Cranbrook, Bertoia honed his skills and explored various artistic mediums, including jewelry, chair design, sculpture, and the use of sound as sculptural material.

Bertoia's artistic output was characterized by his unique approach to sculpture, which combined a sculptural approach to making with an experimental embrace of metal. He created one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, iconic chairs, and thousands of unique sculptures, including large-scale commissions for significant buildings. His work seamlessly merged various fields of endeavor, such as art, architecture, and design, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach.

Harry Bertoia: Sculpting Mid-Century Modern Life, a comprehensive retrospective of the artist's career, accompanies the first U.S. museum retrospective of his work. The book delves into the full scope of Bertoia's broad and interdisciplinary practice, showcasing important examples of his furniture, jewelry, monotypes, and diverse sculptural output. Lavishly illustrated, it features new scholarly essays and a comprehensive catalogue of the artist's numerous large-scale commissions.

One of the central themes of the book is the exploration of how and why we distinguish between a chair, a necklace, a screen, and a freestanding sculpture. Bertoia's sculptural objects, when taken together, raise questions about the fluidity of visual language across cultures, both at mid-century and in the present day. His work challenges traditional boundaries and encourages viewers to reevaluate their perception of art and its various forms.

Through his innovative approach and profound artistic vision, Harry Bertoia left an indelible mark on the world of art. His work continues to inspire and influence artists, designers, and architects, reminding us of the power of creativity and the limitless possibilities of artistic expression.

Weight: 1494g
Dimension: 247 x 288 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783858818621