Maggy Mauritz's First Solo Exhibition at 80 Reveals Forgotten Lettrism Pioneer
Until December 30, 2021, Galerie Loeve & Co in Paris showcases the inaugural monographic exhibition of Maggy Mauritz, an often-overlooked figure in Lettrism. Born in Bohemia in 1941, Mauritz was sent to a Sudeten refugee camp at just four years old. After being rediscovered by Lettrism expert Frédéric Acquaviva, she expressed her surprise at finding her artworks after five decades. Living in the shadow of her husband, Roberto Altmann, and the male-centric Lettrist circle led by Isidore Isou, Mauritz's artistic journey includes a "historical" phase from 1964 to 1972 and a more liberated period beginning in the 1990s. The exhibition features paper works, including aerosol spray art, and Mauritz is currently penning her memoirs to shed light on the Lettrist movement.
Key facts
- Maggy Mauritz's first solo exhibition at age 80 runs until December 30, 2021 at Galerie Loeve & Co in Paris
- She was born in 1941 in Bohemia and deported to a Sudeten refugee camp near Stuttgart at age four and a half
- Her rediscovery was facilitated by Lettrism specialist Frédéric Acquaviva
- Mauritz lived in the shadow of her husband Roberto Altmann and Isidore Isou's male-dominated Lettrist group
- Her work includes a historical period from 1964-1972 with about 150 pieces and a freer period since the 1990s
- She pioneered aerosol spray use in art in 1966 for quick-drying paint
- Her unique script derives from German stenography adapted for French and English
- She is writing memoirs to provide an intimate look at the Lettrist group
Entities
Artists
- Maggy Mauritz
- Roberto Altmann
- Isidore Isou
- Alain de Latour
- Frédéric Acquaviva
- Fabrice Gousset
- Élisabeth Couturier
Institutions
- Galerie Loeve & Co
- artpress
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Bohemia
- Stuttgart
- Germany
- Sindelfingen-Bernet
- London
- United Kingdom
Sources
- artpress —