Ann Coxon – författare

A much-needed publication celebrating the endless creativity of Anni Albers, one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century.Anni Albers (1899–1994) was a textile designer, weaver, writer and printmaker, who was among the leading pioneers of twentieth-century modernism. Throughout her fruitful career she inspired a reconsideration of fabrics, both in their functional roles and as wall hangings, truly establishing thread and weaving as a valid medium for art. In her later years, Albers took up print-making, translating many of her persistent themes and ideas into two-dimensional form. But while Albers has been extremely influential for younger generations of artists and designers, her contribution to modernist art history has, until now, been rather overlooked. This publication presents Albers's most important works in a new light, to fully explore and redefine her contribution to twentieth-century art and design, and highlight her significance as an artist in her own right, rather than alongside her husband Josef. Illuminating Albers's technical skill, her material awareness and acute understanding of art and design, this much-needed publication is a celebration of one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, and her endless creativity.

Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930–2017) was a Polish artist who revolutionised the use of woven forms in art. In the mid 1960s, she transformed the modest material of sisal into monumental hanging sculptures, known as Abakans, which captivated audiences and brought her international fame. In the 1970s she amassed them into vast organic environments, at times threading through reclaimed ship ropes. Imbued with meaning, they were spaces to contemplate, to immerse oneself in, to experience. This book explores the unique nature of these radical works and brings readers into Abakanowicz’s imaginal world. Delving into the lesser-known context of the art world from which Abakanowicz emerged, and touching on other aspects of a remarkable sixty-year career, it reveals her impact on environmental sculpture, as well as her deeply personal interests in natural phenomena and global cultures. Showcasing the Abakans in a whole new light, it is a celebration of the mastery and determination of this extraordinary artist.

Depictions of motherhood are ever present in Western art, yet rarely questioned or challenged. We may shy away from a subject that could be seen as sentimental or overly associated with idealistic constructs of femininity, nurture and care. Whether we are mothers ourselves, or whether we bring or nurture life in a wider sense, we all have some understanding of motherhood. We are all born of a woman’s body. We are formed from the messy, challenging, self-denying and transformative experiences of motherhood. Giving birth to their creations, artists have represented this vital and complex subject in a variety of ways, providing insight into what motherhood might mean, its joys and challenges, and seeking to articulate its unspoken aspects.This beautiful gift book delves into the subject of motherhood as seen through the eyes of artists, providing a fresh insight into maternity as an art-historical subject and revealing the ways in which it has been confronted and re-imagined over the past 400 years. Featuring fifty artworks in a variety of media, this book is a celebration of motherhood in all its complexity.