Alice Baber
An Artist's Triumph Over Tragedy
Will be published approx. on 26. March 2026
Book
Hardback
432 pages
979-8-89710-040-8 (ISBN)
Description
The definitive biography of abstract artist Alice Baber, whose luminous and beloved works took the world by storm.
From one of the most acclaimed art biographers writing today comes the surprising life of Alice Baber, who produced exquisite abstract paintings of vibrantly colored shapes that created an illusion of floating light. Heralded as an "artist of lyrical abstractions," Baber's paintings had already entered the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan, the Guggenheim, and the Whitney at the time of her premature death at just fifty-four. How could such an accomplished and visionary artist then fall into near obscurity?
In Alice Baber, the artist's fascinating story is finally revealed, despite concerted efforts to consign her to oblivion. Levin's book is a vital corrective to the history of American art and a thrilling opportunity for the next generation experience Baber anew. Vividly written and richly detailed, we journey through her rural upbringing to her years exhibiting around the world and experience the heady mid-century art world in all its glory.
Levin's dynamic prose brings to life this synesthetic artist who links color to both movement and sound. We witness Baber's talent and ambition, her tenacity and charm, and learn how her feminist activism and her work as a curator helped other artists. Alice Baber: An Artist's Triumph Over Tragedy is an insightful and stunning portrait that resurrects a central figure in modern art.
From one of the most acclaimed art biographers writing today comes the surprising life of Alice Baber, who produced exquisite abstract paintings of vibrantly colored shapes that created an illusion of floating light. Heralded as an "artist of lyrical abstractions," Baber's paintings had already entered the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan, the Guggenheim, and the Whitney at the time of her premature death at just fifty-four. How could such an accomplished and visionary artist then fall into near obscurity?
In Alice Baber, the artist's fascinating story is finally revealed, despite concerted efforts to consign her to oblivion. Levin's book is a vital corrective to the history of American art and a thrilling opportunity for the next generation experience Baber anew. Vividly written and richly detailed, we journey through her rural upbringing to her years exhibiting around the world and experience the heady mid-century art world in all its glory.
Levin's dynamic prose brings to life this synesthetic artist who links color to both movement and sound. We witness Baber's talent and ambition, her tenacity and charm, and learn how her feminist activism and her work as a curator helped other artists. Alice Baber: An Artist's Triumph Over Tragedy is an insightful and stunning portrait that resurrects a central figure in modern art.
Reviews / Votes
"A painter of color and light. Alice Baber is the first scholarly examination of the artist. Levin's thorough research offers a firm grounding for future studies. A richly detailed homage." -- <I><B>Kirkus Reviews</B></I> "Gail Levin continues her quest to right the wrongs of art history's tendency to slight women artists in favor of their more established husband's. Such was (and is) the case for too many talented painters like Alice Baber. Kudos to Dr. Levin for her valiant efforts." * <b>Judy Chicago</b> * Praise for Gail Levin"Ms. Levin's perceptive, judicious book reveals Krasner as a fine, important painter. This is an insightful, sharply drawn portrait of 20th-century America from the vantage point of a creative woman swept up in a realm of remarkable artistic productivity." * <I><B>The Wall Street Journal</B></I> * "A quintuple whammy of a biography?the story of a major artist; a description of a notorious marriage; an education in 20th-century art; a gossipy immersion into Bohemian New York; and a settling of scores against those who practiced gender bias." * <I><B>O, The Oprah Magazine</B></I> * "Compelling. Art historian Gail Levin has drawn on her close association with Lee Krasner and extensive research to produce a biography that rings fair and true." * <I><B>Los Angeles Tims</B></I> * "For the love of art....Art historian Gail Levin frames the extremely colorful life of Lee Krasner, major ass-kicking Abstract Expressionist and formidable genius in her own right, better known for boosting the career of her splashier-than-life husband, Jackson Pollock." * <I><B>Vanity Fair</B></I> * "Gail Levin's stunning new biography finally proves Krasner's relationship with Jackson Pollock was only a sliver of an enormously colorful life. Levin's biography ensures that Lee Krasner will never again be known merely as 'Mrs. Jackson Pollock.'" * <I><B>Minneapolis Star Tribune </B></I> * "Gail Levin sets the record straight: Krasner was a fierce, fascinating and gifted artist... Lee Krasner adds more luster, meticulously tracing the artist's life." * <I><B>Cleveland Plain Dealer</B></I> * "Levin is now the first to tell Krasner's captivating story, writing with equal insight into her teperament, experiences, and art. A consummate scholar, marvelously lucid writer, and gracefully responsible biographer, Levin redresses glaring omissions in the history of abstract art in this imperative portrait of a formidable artist." * <B><I>Booklist </I>(starred review)</B> * "Gail Levin's biography of Lee Krasner beautifully evokes a period in American art that laid the groundwork for the women artists of today. Lee... contributed wonderful work but also encouraged a whole new generation of artists. She grew into true generativity. Bless her and her biographer!" * <B>Erica Jong</B> *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
24 pages of color images, B&W images throughout
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 41 mm
Weight
703 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-89710-040-8 (9798897100408)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Gail Levin is the author of Edward Hopper: An Intimate Biography, Becoming Judy Chicago, Lee Krasner: A Biography and many other books on twentieth-century and contemporary art. She is Distinguished Professor of Art History, American Studies, and Women's Studies at the Graduate Center and Baruch College of the City University of New York.