Nancy Reddin Kienholz, Collaborative Artist with Ed Kienholz, Dies at 75

Nancy Reddin Kienholz, who partnered with her husband Ed Kienholz on numerous installations that explored American identity and societal issues, passed away at the age of 75 in Houston. Her death was announced by LA Louver Gallery, which has represented the couple since 1981. Born in California in 1943, Nancy was a photojournalist prior to meeting Ed in 1972. Ed, a self-taught artist and co-founder of Ferus Gallery, was known for his controversial piece Five Car Stud (1969–72). Their collaboration began shortly after their meeting, with their first joint creation, The Middle Islands No. 1 (1972), focusing on gender and marriage. Although they received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1976, Ed initially claimed sole credit for their work. It wasn't until their 1981 exhibition The Kienholz Women in Berlin that Ed publicly recognized Nancy's contributions and sought retroactive credit for all works created after 1972. The couple split their time between Hope, Indiana, and Berlin until Ed's passing in 1994. Following his death, Nancy continued to produce assemblages, collages, installations, and holographic art, delving into themes of gender and family. She also invested three years restoring Five Car Stud, which was displayed at LACMA in 2011.