The World Outside

A deep dive into the life and work of sculptor Louise Nevelson recontextualizes her art in light of social movements, travel, and her experiences in dance and theater Known for her monumental wooden wall pieces and outdoor sculptures, Louise Nevelson (18991988) was a towering figure in twentieth-century American art. A more nuanced picture of Nevelson emerges in The World Outside: Louise Nevelson at Midcentury. Discussions about Nevelsons early involvement with modern dance and subsequent immersion in avant-garde theater bring new understandings of her drawings and sculptures. A reframing of her travels to Mexico and Guatemala in the early 1950s demonstrates, for the first time, how colonial archaeology haunted her visual language for decades. Other little-known facets of Nevelsons lifeher interest in folk art, architecture, and period furnitureopen up a conversation about the artists approach to Americas past material culture. A pioneering examination of Nevelsons printmaking experiences at Tamarind Lithography Workshop reveals how the artist created alternative modes of viewing through unconventional methods and materials. The book also reconsiders Nevelsons work in the context of the environmental movement. Additionally, three contemporary artists relate Nevelsons role in their careers and lives, a local expert describes her roots and relationship to Maine, and the artists granddaughter shares thoughts on Nevelsons spirituality. Distributed for the Amon Carter Museum of American Art Exhibition Schedule Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, TX (August 27, 2023January 7, 2024) Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville, ME (February 6June 9, 2024)