Ruth Asawa’s Significant Retrospective Launches at New York’s MoMA
**Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art**
Following a remarkably successful five-month run at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA), the acclaimed retrospective of Ruth Asawa’s creations has arrived at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Titled “Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective,” this pioneering exhibition displays an impressive selection of nearly 400 pieces that chronicle the artist’s broad six-decade journey.
As Cara Manes, associate curator in MoMA’s painting and sculpture department, notes, Asawa’s artistic path reveals incredible adaptability and the capability to gain enduring creative inspiration from the most basic elements. The exhibition provides multiple avenues to engage with her art, epitomizing what Asawa referred to as the ‘total act’ of making art.
The retrospective introduces onlookers to Asawa’s initial experiments with wire, a medium she explored while attending Black Mountain College in North Carolina after World War II. During this time, she developed a distinctive looping-wire technique, now synonymous with her work. Her sculptures, such as “Untitled (S.535, Hanging Five-Lobed Continuous Form)” from 1951, showcase her hallmark style, defined by flowing, abstract forms reminiscent of droplets of water.
Moreover, Asawa’s wire sculptures convey a naturalistic aesthetic. These works conjure images of molecules, feathers, or branches; for instance, “Untitled (S.390, Hanging Tied-Wire)” reinterprets a tree with its mirrored branches implying an intricate root network. The exhibition also highlights her diverse body of work, which encompasses drawing, printmaking, bronze casting, and more.
Beyond its artistic significance, the retrospective marks an important achievement, as noted by the Art Newspaper. It is recognized as the largest exhibition devoted to a female artist at both MoMA and SFMoMA, based on the length of checklists—MoMA’s alone spans over 94 pages. Both prestigious institutions have provided ample gallery space, over 15,000 square feet.
MoMA’s exhibit will remain open to the public until February 7, 2026, giving plenty of opportunity for art lovers to appreciate Asawa’s transformative creations.
**Exhibition Details:**
– Title: Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective
– Dates: October 19, 2025 – February 7, 2026
– Location: The Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd St., New York, NY
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