Alina Szapocznikow's Intimate Sculptures Confront Trauma and Mortality at Andrea Rosen Gallery
From October 31 to December 5, 2015, the Andrea Rosen Gallery in New York showcased a solo exhibition of sculptures by Alina Szapocznikow. The Polish artist, who passed away at the age of 47 in 1973 due to breast cancer, produced art that delves into bodily experiences and her personal narrative. A significant work, Piotr (1972), is a six-foot resin cast of her adopted son, created during her illness. Szapocznikow's harrowing experiences in Nazi concentration camps and her struggles with infertility profoundly shaped her bold representations of the body using materials such as resin. Among her notable pieces are Stèle (1968) and Sous la Coupole (1970), alongside 'sculpture-lamps' like Illuminowana (1966-1967) and Kaprys-Monstre (1967), highlighting intimate details.
Key facts
- Alina Szapocznikow's solo exhibition ran from October 31 to December 5, 2015
- The exhibition was held at Andrea Rosen Gallery at 525 West 24th Street in New York
- Szapocznikow died in 1973 at age 47 from breast cancer
- She survived Nazi concentration camps after being confined to Jewish ghettos in Poland during World War II
- Piotr (1972) is a resin cast of her son's body made while she had cancer
- Her sculptures often feature casts of her own body parts like breasts, lips, and legs
- She used materials including resin, polyurethane foam, and plaster in her work
- The exhibition included 'sculpture-lamps' such as Illuminowana (1966-1967) and Kaprys-Monstre (1967)
Entities
Artists
- Alina Szapocznikow
- Piotr Stanislawski
Institutions
- Andrea Rosen Gallery
- artcritical
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Poland