Noguchi, Isamu

Isamu Noguchi, an American artist with Japanese roots, was not only a sculptor but also a designer of furniture, lighting, and stage sets. Throughout his career, he succeeded in expanding the concept of visual art to such an extent that the landscape itself became the subject of artistic creation. He did not see sculptures as isolated objects, but as integral part of the space surrounding them. His minimalist sculptures, gardens, and plazas are clear and timeless, traditional and modern at the same time.

Noguchi worked with stone, wood, metal, and clay, but also with modern materials such as glass and concrete. He is particularly known for his masterful handling of stone, in which he respected its natural structure and surface. In 1985, he opened the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City in an old industrial building; it was the first museum in the United States to be established by a living artist for his own art. The museum features a tranquil outdoor sculpture garden as well as numerous galleries displaying the artist’s works.