Ibram Lassaw

Ibram Lassaw (May 4, 1913 – December 30, 2003) was a Russian-American sculptor known for his non-objective, open-space constructions in brazed metals. A pioneer of abstract sculpture in the United States, he was an influential member of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism alongside artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, to Russian émigré parents, Lassaw emigrated to the United States in 1921, settling in Brooklyn, New York. He became a U.S. citizen in 1928. His artistic training began in 1926 at the Clay Club, later studying at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design in New York. He was influenced by modernist pioneers such as Wassily Kandinsky and Sophie Taeuber-Arp.

During the 1930s, Lassaw committed to abstract art, breaking away from traditional sculpture techniques. Instead of using monolithic solid metal casting, he developed open-space constructions, utilizing welding to create intricate, web-like metal structures.

He was a founding member of the American Abstract Artists (AAA) in 1936 and served as its president from 1946 to 1949. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, where he mastered direct welding techniques, which later became a defining feature of his sculptural practice.

After the war, Lassaw experimented with cage-like constructions and acrylic plastics, incorporating vibrant colors by applying dyes directly to the metal surfaces. His style drew from Surrealism, Constructivism, and Cubism, resulting in complex and dynamic three-dimensional works.

Lassaw's work was exhibited in major museums and international exhibitions, including:

In 1984, Lassaw was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, recognizing his major contributions to American abstract sculpture.

From 1955, Lassaw spent summers in Long Island, later making it his permanent home in 1963. He continued to create and inspire artists until his passing in 2003. His legacy remains vital in the history of modern sculpture, with his works housed in prestigious collections worldwide.