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Eva Hesse

エヴァ・ヘッセ

Eva Hesse

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1936-01-11 （Hamburg, Nazi Germany）
Died
1970-05-29 （New York City, U.S.） age 34
Nationality
Germany, United States
Languages
English, German
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
Hamburg (birth) → Netherlands (temporary refuge) → New York (Washington Heights) → Kettwig-on-the-Ruhr, Germany → Manhattan, New York (studio/work)

Career

Occupations
Sculptor, Contemporary artist, Painter, Draftsman
Active Years
1954-1970
Influenced By
Josef Albers, Abstract Expressionism, Contemporary minimalist artists (e.g. Sol LeWitt)
Influenced
Later postminimalist artists, Contemporary artists including Eiji Sumi

Education

School of Industrial Art (New York)
Degree: 卒業
Period: 〜1952
Country: United States
Graduated at age 16
Pratt Institute
Period: 1952–1953
Country: United States
Attended one year; left before graduating
Art Students League of New York
Period: 1950年代（通学）
Country: United States
Took classes in drawing and related subjects
Cooper Union
Period: 1954–1957
Country: United States
Attended during 1954–1957
Yale University
Art
Degree: 学士（BA）
Period: 1957–1959
Year of Graduation: 1959
Country: United States
Studied with Josef Albers

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Ringaround Arosie

1965 Sculpture (mixed media)

An early three-dimensional work using cloth-covered cord, electrical wire and masonite; blurs boundaries between drawing and sculpture.

Use of everyday materialsBlurred boundary between drawing and sculpture

Hang Up

1966 Sculpture

A large-scale structure made with cloth, cord and steel tube; notable for its extremity and repetitive formal language.

RepetitionTension and slackness

Repetition Nineteen III

1968 Sculpture (fiberglass, polyester resin)

A repetitive structure composed of 19 units; uses minimalist forms repeated to generate subtle variation.

RepetitionModularity

Contingent

1969 Sculpture (latex, cheesecloth, fiberglass)

An installation-like work consisting of units of latex and cheesecloth; emphasizes material fragility and corporeality.

Organic formsMaterial ageing

Expanded Expansion

1969 Sculpture (fiberglass, latex, resin)

A large-scale sculpture characterized by flowing surfaces and expansive structure; raises conservation and decay issues.

Expanding corporealityDecay and conservation

Bibliography

  • Eva Hesse (Lucy R. Lippard)
  • Eva Hesse: A Retrospective (ed. Helen A. Cooper)
  • Eva Hesse: Sculpture (Sussman & Wasserman)

Adaptations

  • Documentary 'Eva Hesse' (2016)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Postminimalist practiceMaterial-focused craft and repetitionExploration of corporeality and organic forms
Recurring Motifs
RepetitionNet-like and clustered structuresEveryday materials (latex, cheesecloth)Decay and temporality

Health

  • Brain tumor
    1969–1970
    Diagnosed in 1969; after several failed operations she died in 1970. Caused premature end of artistic production.

Legacy

Recognized as a leading figure in 1960s postminimalism. Her innovative use of materials and repetitive methods influenced subsequent generations; many major museums hold her works, and conservation challenges due to material decay remain a key research issue.

Museums

  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York New York City Opened in 1929
  • Museum Wiesbaden Wiesbaden, Germany
  • Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York City Opened in 1959

Archives

  • Eva Hesse Archive, Allen Memorial Art Museum (Oberlin College)

In Popular Culture

  • 2016 documentary film 'Eva Hesse'

Quotes

  • Life doesn't last; art doesn't last.
    Source: Letter by Eva Hesse (excerpt) (1969)
  • Stop thinking and just DO!
    Source: Advice from Sol LeWitt to Eva Hesse (correspondence) (1965)

Trivia

  • As a child she was sent on a Kindertransport to escape Nazi Germany.
  • Married sculptor Tom Doyle in 1961 and divorced in 1966.
  • Died at age 34 in 1970 from a brain tumor.