A Look Inside: Ruth Asawa's, "Through Line" at The Whitney Museum of American Art
Ruth Asawa's, "Through Line" exhibition takes a deep dive into Ruth Asawa's artistic legacy. Co-curated by the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Menil Collection, this showcase unveils the artist's materials and processes, spotlighting how drawing served as the basis of her distinctive visual language. Despite her recognition as a sculptor, Asawa remained committed to drawing daily as she considered it both her "greatest pleasure and the most difficult."
Asawa believed that drawing was the foundation of all of her artistic practices and helped her create her unique artistic vocabulary. Through her drawings, she navigated the world around her and pushed the boundaries of the medium itself.
This exhibition strategically juxtaposes the artist's drawings, collages, watercolors, stamped prints, copper foil works, and sketchbooks. Many of the hundreds of works showcased belong to private collections and are on display for the first time. The work is broken down into thematic sections starting with Asawa's time at Black Mountain College in the late 1940s.
Ruth Asawa, Through Line, [Installation view], Whitney Museum of American Art. (Viewed: November 2023),
Image by Ashley Webster.
Growing up on a farm in Southern California, Asawa was inspired by her environment and often sketched the shapes and patterns she spotted in everyday life. Dirt paths, fence lines, and rock formations combined with her daily calligraphy lessons were foundational motifs in her artwork.
Ruth Asawa, Through Line, [Installation view], Whitney Museum of American Art. (Viewed: November 2023),
Image by Ashley Webster.
Despite the artist being widely known for wire sculptures, she devoted herself to drawing. Her experimental handling of materials, lines, surfaces, and space resulted in a diverse collection of drawings that mirrored her playful curiosity, technical skill, and fascination with the beauty inherent in ordinary life.
Ruth Asawa, Through Line, [Installation view], Whitney Museum of American Art. (Viewed: November 2023),
Image by Ashley Webster.
Curiosity and Control
Asawa's radiant ink paintings highlight her remarkable balance between spontaneity and purpose. She combines meticulous brushwork alongside captivating natural effects like blooms, tidelines, and the crinkling of paper. Her initial encounters with a brush occurred during childhood calligraphy classes, igniting her fascination with watercolors. Inspired by the patterns, Asawa used her pen to reimagine them into trees' intricate forms.
Ruth Asawa, Through Line, [Installation view], Whitney Museum of American Art. (Viewed: November 2023),
Image by Ashley Webster.
Rhythms and Waves
Asawa filled pages and notebooks with a line that twists within itself and unfolds repeatedly across the paper. Drawing this intricate pattern demanded precise calculation to ensure a balanced interplay between negative and positive spaces. Josef Albers saw it as a lesson in "leading the eye ahead of the pencil," presenting mental, visual, and manual challenges that deeply intrigued Asawa.
Ruth Asawa, Through Line, [Installation view], Whitney Museum of American Art. (Viewed: November 2023),
Image by Ashley Webster.
Growth Patterns
In the early 1960s, Asawa commonly used a method of starting from a central point in her work. She shifted her fascination to concentric circles and branches that span outwards. This was inspired by her study of nature, "I'm fascinated by the way nature grows and organizes itself."
Ruth Asawa, Through Line, [Installation view], Whitney Museum of American Art. (Viewed: November 2023),
Image by Ashley Webster.
Organised thematically and through the artists' experimental approach, the viewer can follow the thought processes of each endeavour and how the works feed into each other. Collectively, these pieces capture the endless explorations of Asawa.
This exhibition is on view until January 15th, 2024 and is located on the 8th floor of the Whitney Museum of American Art.