Xanti Schawinsky's Overlooked Legacy Revived in Two New York Exhibitions
In New York, two exhibitions are highlighting the work of Bauhaus artist Xanti Schawinsky, who has remained largely overlooked since his passing in 1979. "Head Drawings and Faces of War," hosted at The Drawing Center, features wartime pieces from the 1940s, including the "Head Drawings" series and "Faces of War," which reflects on World War II. Meanwhile, "Eclipse" at Broadway 1602 showcases paintings from the 1960s and 1970s, featuring airbrushed canvases and geometric "Eclipse" designs. Born in Switzerland in 1904, Schawinsky attended the Weimar Bauhaus in 1924, directed its theater department, and emigrated in 1933. He taught at Black Mountain College from 1936 to 1938 before moving to New York in 1939, later spending his final years in Italy.
Key facts
- Xanti Schawinsky was a Bauhaus artist who died in 1979 and has been largely overlooked since.
- Two exhibitions in New York are showcasing his work: "Head Drawings and Faces of War" at The Drawing Center and "Eclipse" at Broadway 1602.
- The Drawing Center exhibition runs from September 19 through December 14, 2014, at 35 Wooster Street in New York.
- Broadway 1602 exhibition runs from September 16 through November 22, 2014, at 1181 Broadway in New York.
- Schawinsky was born in Switzerland to Polish Jewish parents and studied at the Weimar Bauhaus in 1924.
- He emigrated due to Nazi threats in 1933, taught at Black Mountain College, and settled in New York in 1939.
- The "Faces of War" series includes works like The Parachutist (1942) and The Admiral (1942), addressing World War II.
- Schawinsky spent his later years in Italy, producing paintings from the 1960s and 1970s shown at Broadway 1602.
Entities
Artists
- Xanti Schawinsky
- Alexander Schawinsky
- Hans Albers
Institutions
- The Drawing Center
- Broadway 1602
- Bauhaus
- Black Mountain College
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Switzerland
- Poland
- Weimar
- Germany
- Italy
- North Carolina