Ruth Asawa Family and Sculpture

1957

American, 1883-1976

As a young adult, Ruth Asawa was a student at Black Mountain College. Her handmade wire baskets are particularly inspired by Mexican basketry. The idea of hand-making crafts aligns with core aspects of Mingei.

Gelatin silver print

10 3/8 x 10 3/8 in. (26.4 x 26.4 cm)

Gift of John H. Hauberg

89.43

Not currently on view

Media

For SAM’s My Favorite Things series in 2022, Meg Partridge discusses Ruth Asawa Family and Sculpture, a 1957 photograph taken by her grandmother, Imogen Cunningham.

Resources

Exhibition HistoryTacoma, Washington, Tacoma Art Museum, The Innovative Photography of Imogen Cunningham from the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum, Dec. 15, 1995 - Mar. 24, 1996.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Exceptionally Ordinary: Mingei 1920–2020, Dec. 14, 2019 - Sept. 6, 2021.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Imogen Cunningham: A Retrospective, Nov. 18, 2021 - Feb. 6, 2022.

Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.

Learn more about Equity at SAM