one of the leading modernist sculptors of the first half of the 20th century, is the subject of a new exhibit at the Frick Art Museum, Frick Art & Historical Center. Entitled "Elie Nadelman: Classical Folk," the exhibit features more than 90 works focusing on the American phase of the artist's career, from 1914 until his death in 1946. During this time Nadelman arrived at his synthesis of forms inspired by such divergent sources as classical sculpture, folk art and popular theater.
The selection of more than 75 sculptures and 20 related drawings is representative of virtually all the major subjects, stylistic innovations and media the artist explored during his years in America. In addition to such celebrated images as "Man in the Open Air," "Hostess," "Orchestra Conductor" and "Dancer," the exhibit includes rarely seen works produced at the end of Nadelman's career. The exhibit is organized thematically into "Classicism," "Folk Art," "Dancers and Performers" and "Modern Life."
According to Danforth P. Fales, director of the Frick, "Nadelman's extraordinary ability to draw inspiration from the past as well as the present, from `highbrow' to `lowbrow' art, from classical statuary to Cigar Store Indians, helped forge a new way of thinking about and making art in the United States."
