Magdalena Abakanowicz: Fate and Art

The illustrated autobiography of the pioneering Polish sculptor, whose organic installations explored the politics of space in presciently fresh ways

One of Polands most famous artists, Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930-2017) revolutionized the use of textile as a sculptural medium with the creation of her 1967 Akabans series consisting of enormous woven structures. In the next two decades of her career, the artist moved more towards representational sculpture, crafting dozens of headless humanoid figures out of wood, burlap and synthetic resin. These figures were then gathered in imposing groups as part of the Crowds series, her meditation on public spaces and how human beings occupy them. In addition to her numerous three-dimensional endeavors, which include an arboreal architecture project in Paris, Abakanowicz was a painter and a choreographer.

Published at a moment of considerable renewed focus on the artist, this autobiography narrated her groundbreaking career for the first time.