Isamu Noguchi

The first picture is "Coffee Table."

The second picture is "Black Slide."

The third picture is "Basket Chair."

Born: November 17, 1904

Died: December 30, 1988

Isamu Noguchi is one of the twentied century's most important and critically acclaimed sculptors. His work, at once subtle and bold, traditional and modern, set a new standard for the reintegration of the arts.

Noguchi traveled extensively throughout his life. In his later years he maintained studios both in Japan and New York. His artistic career spanned throughout six decades, from 1920s on. His work lives on around the world and at the Noguchi Museum in New York City.

After high school, Noguchi worked as an apprentice under Gutzon Borgeum, who was the creator of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Noguchi received very little training as a sculptor, and acutally was told he would never become a sculptor. During 1924, while still enrolled at Columbie, Noguchi followed his mother's advice and took night classes at the Leonardo de Vinci Art School. The school's head was immediately impressed with Noguchi's work. Three months later Noguchi had his first exhibit. He soon dropped out of Columbia to pursue his sculpture full time. After moving into his own studio he found work through commisions. In 1926 he ws awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship despite being three years short of the age requirement. In the ensuing years he gained prominance and acclaim leaving his large scale works in many of the worlds major cities. In 1955 he designed the sets and costumes for the theatre production of King Lear. In 1962, he was elected to membership in the Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1986, he represented the U.S. at the Venice Biennale, showing a number of his Akari light sculptures. In 1987, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum is devoted to the preservation, documentation, presentation, and interpretation of the work of Isamu Noguchi. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation is represented by the Pace Gallery, New York.