HERBERT FERBER: Space in Tension —The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

Abstract Expressionist sculptor and painter Herbert Ferber (American, 1906–1991) was one of the New York School’s most original artists. Known as the founder of “sculpture as environment,” Ferber created one of the first fully-immersive sculptural installations, which was presented at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1961. This retrospective exhibition includes Ferber’s internationally-recognized direct-metal sculptures and a selection of his energetic paintings.

Ferber is most recognized for his sculpture, characterized as powerfully “piercing” space. They are open, hollow forms that often suggest forces in conflict. Spanning six decades―from the mid-1940s to 1990―this exhibition showcases more than 40 works in sculpture and painting, many never before exhibited. Herbert Ferber: Space in Tension demonstrates the Abstract Expressionist artist’s sculptural practice developed slowly and thoughtfully, incorporating elements of Surrealism, social realism, and expressionism.