October 2009
“About 10 years ago I went to one of the famous Sunday salons at
Louise’s house on 20th Street. One artist brought a small sculpture, and
Louise questioned its purpose, destroying it completely. By the time it
was my turn, I was ready to flee, but she happened to like one of my
pieces very much. She said, ‘Yes, that’s right.’ I felt incredibly
relieved, as if I had passed the exam of my life.” —artist Guillermo
Kuitca
“The first time I had dinner at Louise’s house, the appetizer was a bed
of lettuce with pieces of octopus and banana sprinkled on top, followed
by ham hocks, and a Klondike bar with alcohol poured over it for
dessert. I had expected the conversation to be memorable, but it’s the
menu that’s stayed with me to this day.” —Wendy Williams, managing
director, Louise Bourgeois studio
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- Art & Design
Louise’s Last Year
Hugely prolific, eternally provocative, and considered by many to be the greatest female artist of the 20th century, Louise Bourgeois died this past May at age 98. During the last year of her life, photographer Alex Van Gelder shot hundreds of pictures of Bourgeois in her New York town house. “It wasn’t just a matter of taking a portrait,” says the Dutchman. “Louise saw it as an extension of her work.” Seen here for the first time—along with tributes from friends and admirers—Van Gelder’s intimate, unvarnished photographs were the last taken of Bourgeois. “It was a great honor and a great responsibility,” he says. “I wanted to demonstrate her strength and her beauty—both of which she held on to until the very, very end.”
September 2010
September 2010
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