Magdalena Abakanowicz was a Polish sculptor and fiber artist who was known for her large-scale sculptures and installations that explored the human condition and the relationship between individuals and society.
Magdalena Abakanowicz was born on June 20, 1930, in Falenty, Poland, and died on April 20, 2017, in Warsaw, Poland. She was married to Jan Kosmowski, a graphic designer, and photographer, from 1956 until her death. She had a net worth of $6-7 million (approx.) as of 2017.
Early Life and Education
Magdalena Abakanowicz belonged to the generation of artists whose youth was cut short by the outbreak of World War II and who were compelled to mature at a young age. Her brief childhood had several effects on her, including a distinctive worldview that affected her art.
After the war, Magdalena Abakanowicz moved to Gdynia for two years of art school at the Liceum Sztuk Plastycznych. In 1950, she moved back to Warsaw to begin her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, the leading art school in Poland.
To get into the Academy she had to pretend to be the daughter of a clerk because her noble background would otherwise have prevented her acceptance into the course. She initially focused on painting but later turned to sculptural work, experimenting with different materials and techniques. She graduated from the Academy in 1954.
Family, Parents & Siblings
She came from a noble landowning family that traced its origins to Abaqa Khan, a 13th-century Mongol chieftain. Her father’s family fled Russia to the newly re-established democratic Poland in the aftermath of the October Revolution.
When she was nine, Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Poland. Her family endured the war years living on the outskirts of Warsaw and became part of the Polish resistance. At the age of 14 she became a nurse’s aid in a Warsaw hospital; seeing the impact of war firsthand would later influence her art.
Wiki | Biodata
| Full Name | Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz |
| Birthday | 20 June 1930 |
| Age | Died on 20 April 2017 at the age of 86 |
| Birthplace | Falenty, Poland |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Parents | Names Not Known |
| Siblings | Will Update |
| Spouse | Jan Kosmowski (1956–2017) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Children | Will Update |
| Career | Sculptor, Fiber Artist |
| Net Worth | $6-7 million (approx.) as of 2017 |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (approx.) |
| Weight | 56 kilograms (approx.) |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Education | Graduate |
| Alma Mater | Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Religion | Christian |
| Magdalena Abakanowicz | |
| Profile 1 Profile 2 | |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
| Wikipedia | Magdalena Abakanowicz |
Artistic Career and Achievements
In the 1960s, Magdalena Abakanowicz gained international recognition for her innovative approach to textile art. One of her most famous series is called “Abakans”, which she created in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These sculptures were made using woven sisal fibers and other natural materials, such as ropes and burlap. The “Abakans” were large, organic forms that often resembled cocoons or nests, reflecting Abakanowicz’s fascination with the human body and its vulnerability.
Throughout her career, Magdalena Abakanowicz explored themes of individuality, identity, and the collective experience of humanity. She often depicted faceless figures or groups of figures that were anonymous and devoid of personal characteristics. These sculptures represented the masses, symbolizing the loss of individuality in modern society. Some of her most notable works include:
- Agora (2006), a group of 106 cast iron figures installed in Grant Park in Chicago.
- Birds of Knowledge of Good and Evil (2001), a group of 30 bronze bird-like sculptures installed on a hill near Milwaukee Art Museum.
- Unrecognized (2002), a group of 112 cast iron figures was installed in Citadel Park in Poznan.
- Space of Stone (2002), a group of 22 granite boulders with human-like forms carved into them installed at Grounds for Sculpture in New Jersey.
- Space of Dragon (1978), a group of nine monumental wooden sculptures installed at Storm King Art Center in New York.
Magdalena Abakanowicz’s works have been exhibited in major art museums and galleries around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. She was also a professor at the University of Fine Arts in Poznan from 1965 to 1990 and a visiting professor at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1984.
Abakanowicz received many awards and honors for her artistic achievements, such as:
- Herder Prize (1979), an award given by Austria to outstanding scholars and artists from Central and Eastern Europe.
- Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts (1999), an award given by Mexico to artists who have contributed significantly to world culture.
- Commander’s Cross with Star (2005), an order bestowed by Poland for distinguished service to culture.
- Visionaries! Award (2009), an award given by the Museum of Arts and Design in New York to artists who have made a lasting impact on contemporary art and design.
Marriage, Husband & Kids
Abakanowicz married Jan Kosmowski, a graphic designer, and photographer, in 1956. They had no children. They lived and worked in a studio in Warsaw, where they also hosted many cultural events and gatherings. Abakanowicz was an avid traveler and visited many countries around the world. She was also interested in philosophy, literature, music, and nature.
Google Doodle on 93rd Birthday
On 20 June 2023, Google Doodle celebrates the 93rd birthday of Magdalena Abakanowicz, a Polish sculptor and fiber artist who pioneered a new category of art known as Abakans. Abakans are large, soft, three-dimensional sculptures made of woven fibers that resemble organic forms. Abakanowicz created them in the 1960s as a way of expressing her individuality and creativity in a time of political and social turmoil in Poland. She won the top prize at the 1965 São Paulo International Art Biennale for her Abakans, which brought her international recognition and acclaim.
Magdalena Abakanowicz was also inspired by the phenomenon of “The Crowd”, the idea that crowds act as a whole and individuals lose their identity within them. She explored this theme in her later works, such as Agora, a collection of 106 iron cast figures installed in Chicago’s Grant Park. Her sculptures often depict human trunks without heads or limbs, suggesting a sense of anonymity and vulnerability. Abakanowicz said that her art was not meant to be a literal representation of reality, but rather a reflection of her emotions and experiences.
Magdalena Abakanowicz’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world, and she has received many awards and honors for her contribution to art and culture. She died in 2017 at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and originality. Today, we celebrate her life and work with this Google Doodle, which features a series of her iconic Abakans in different colors and shapes.
Death Cause
Magdalena Abakanowicz died on April 20, 2017, in Warsaw, Poland, at the age of 86. She was buried at Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw. Her husband died a few months later on August 8, 2017. She died in Warsaw, Poland, after a long illness. The specific cause of her death was not publicly disclosed.
Legacy and influence
Magdalena Abakanowicz is widely regarded as one of the most influential and original artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. She is credited with expanding the boundaries of sculpture and textile art, creating new forms of expression and communication. She is also admired for her courage and perseverance in pursuing her artistic vision despite the political and social challenges she faced in her life.
Abakanowicz’s works have inspired many artists and designers, such as:
- Louise Bourgeois, a French-American sculptor also explored themes of the human body, sexuality, and emotion.
- Anish Kapoor is a British-Indian sculptor who also creates large-scale installations that evoke organic forms and metaphysical concepts.
- Issey Miyake is a Japanese fashion designer who also uses innovative fabrics and techniques to create sculptural garments.
- Nick Cave, is an American artist who also creates wearable sculptures that combine textiles, found objects, and sound.
Abakanowicz’s works have also been featured in various films, books, and music, such as:
- Abakany (1970), is a documentary film by Andrzej Brzozowski that shows Abakanowicz creating her “Abakans” sculptures.
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1984), a novel by Milan Kundera mentions Abakanowicz’s “Abakans” sculptures as an example of artistic freedom.
- The Hours (2002), a film by Stephen Daldry that shows Abakanowicz’s “Crowds” sculptures in the Tate Modern museum.
- The Book Thief (2013), is a film by Brian Percival that shows Abakanowicz’s “Space of Stone” sculptures in the background of a scene.
- The Ninth Wave (2014), an album by Kate Bush that features Abakanowicz’s “Birds of Knowledge of Good and Evil” sculptures on the cover.
Social Media
Magdalena Abakanowicz had an official website (www.abakanowicz.art.pl) where she posted information about her works, exhibitions, awards, publications, and biography. She also had official accounts on Instagram (@magdalenaabakanowicz) and Facebook (@magdalenaabakanowiczofficial) where she shared photos and videos of her works and events.
Facts About Magdalena Abakanowicz
- Magdalena was born on June 20, 1930, in Falenty, Poland, to a noble family of Polish and Tatar descent.
- She experienced the horrors of World War II and the Nazi occupation of Poland as a child, which influenced her artistic vision.
- Magdalena studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw from 1950 to 1954 but later switched to sculpture and textile art.
- She became famous for her series of Abakans, large woven sisal fiber sculptures that resembled cocoons or nests, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
- Magdalena Abakanowicz explored themes of individuality, identity, and the collective experience of humanity in her works, often depicting faceless figures or groups of figures that symbolized the masses.
- Magdalena created outdoor installations that interacted with the natural environment and invited public participation, such as Agora, a group of 106 iron figures in Chicago’s Grant Park.
- She also worked with other materials such as bronze, wood, stone, clay, and burlap, creating sculptures that evoked organic forms or human anatomy.
- Magdalena was a professor at the University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland, from 1965 to 1990 and a visiting professor at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1984.
- She received many awards and honors for her artistic achievements, such as the Herder Prize in 1979 and the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts in 1999.
- Abakanowicz died on April 20, 2017, in Warsaw, Poland, at the age of 86.
- Her works are exhibited in major art museums and galleries around the world, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
- She was influenced by artists such as Henry Moore, Constantin Brâncuși, Jean Dubuffet, and Alberto Giacometti.
- She was also inspired by nature, history, philosophy, and mythology in her artistic expression.
- Abakanowicz was considered one of the most influential and original artists of the postwar era and a pioneer of fiber art and postminimalism.
- Abakanowicz was celebrated by Google with a doodle on her 93rd birthday on June 20, 2023.
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