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Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina

October 3, 2025 – January 11, 2026

Architects of Being alludes to the architectural spirits of Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina, brought together in dialogue for the first time, as well as the ways in which they constructed their identities in a midcentury American art world.

Nevelson called herself an “architect of shadow” and built monumental structures from the scraps of razed buildings. Slobodkina was a painter who extended the use of color, form, and texture to transform her surroundings. They were world builders. But first, they built themselves—as immigrants, working women, and creative pioneers of abstraction—who bravely set out to become artists at the start of the Great Depression.

  • Louise Nevelson (Pereiaslav, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 - 1988, New York, New York), "Tide Garden IV," 1964, painted and assembled wood construction, 91 x 140 x 10 in., Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection: Gift of Sidney Singer, Sr., Stephens Inc., Gerald Cramer, Martin Oppenheimer, Edward Rosenthal, and John Rosenthal. 1983.030.
    Louise Nevelson (Pereiaslav, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 - 1988, New York, New York), "Tide Garden IV," 1964, painted and assembled wood construction, 91 x 140 x 10 in., Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection: Gift of Sidney Singer, Sr., Stephens Inc., Gerald Cramer, Martin Oppenheimer, Edward Rosenthal, and John Rosenthal. 1983.030.

    Louise Nevelson (Pereiaslav, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 - 1988, New York, New York), "Tide Garden IV," 1964, painted and assembled wood construction, 91 x 140 x 10 in., Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection: Gift of Sidney Singer, Sr., Stephens Inc., Gerald Cramer, Martin Oppenheimer, Edward Rosenthal, and John Rosenthal. 1983.030.

  • Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Abstraction with Red Circle," 1938, oil on canvas, 29 x 13 x 1 1/4 in., On loan from the New Britain Museum of American Art: Olga H. Knoepke Fund. 1994.02.
    Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Abstraction with Red Circle," 1938, oil on canvas, 29 x 13 x 1 1/4 in., On loan from the New Britain Museum of American Art: Olga H. Knoepke Fund. 1994.02.

    Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Abstraction with Red Circle," 1938, oil on canvas, 29 x 13 x 1 1/4 in., On loan from the New Britain Museum of American Art: Olga H. Knoepke Fund. 1994.02.

  • Unknown, "Chinese Embroidered Long Vest," 1644 - 1911, silk gold thread, and metal enclosures, length: 56 in. On loan from the collection of Maria Nevelson. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.
    Unknown, "Chinese Embroidered Long Vest," 1644 - 1911, silk gold thread, and metal enclosures, length: 56 in. On loan from the collection of Maria Nevelson. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

    Unknown, "Chinese Embroidered Long Vest," 1644 - 1911, silk gold thread, and metal enclosures, length: 56 in. On loan from the collection of Maria Nevelson. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

  • Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Escape No. 1," 1960, mixed media construction, 39 x 20 x 39 in., Courtesy of Slobodkina Foundation. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.
    Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Escape No. 1," 1960, mixed media construction, 39 x 20 x 39 in., Courtesy of Slobodkina Foundation. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

    Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Escape No. 1," 1960, mixed media construction, 39 x 20 x 39 in., Courtesy of Slobodkina Foundation. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

  • Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Levitator Abstraction," circa 1950, oil on Masonite, framed: 24 3/4 x 46 1/2 in., On loan from the Saint Louis Art Museum, The Linda and Harvey Saligman Endowed Acquisition Fund; Gift of J. Harold Pettus, Gift of Edward J. Costigan in memory of his wife, Sara Guth Costigan, Gift of August A. Busch Jr., Gift of the Estate of Moses Soyer, Gift of Mrs. Richard Meade in memory of her husband, Richard Worsam Meade IV, and Gift of Stuart M. Chambers, all by exchange.
    Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Levitator Abstraction," circa 1950, oil on Masonite, framed: 24 3/4 x 46 1/2 in., On loan from the Saint Louis Art Museum, The Linda and Harvey Saligman Endowed Acquisition Fund; Gift of J. Harold Pettus, Gift of Edward J. Costigan in memory of his wife, Sara Guth Costigan, Gift of August A. Busch Jr., Gift of the Estate of Moses Soyer, Gift of Mrs. Richard Meade in memory of her husband, Richard Worsam Meade IV, and Gift of Stuart M. Chambers, all by exchange.

    Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Levitator Abstraction," circa 1950, oil on Masonite, framed: 24 3/4 x 46 1/2 in., On loan from the Saint Louis Art Museum, The Linda and Harvey Saligman Endowed Acquisition Fund; Gift of J. Harold Pettus, Gift of Edward J. Costigan in memory of his wife, Sara Guth Costigan, Gift of August A. Busch Jr., Gift of the Estate of Moses Soyer, Gift of Mrs. Richard Meade in memory of her husband, Richard Worsam Meade IV, and Gift of Stuart M. Chambers, all by exchange.

  • Louise Nevelson (Pereiaslav, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 - 1988, New York, New York), "Moving-Static-Moving-Figure," 1947, terracotta, bronze, wood, paint, and casting, 21 3/8 x 14 1/2 x 11 1/2 in., On loan from the collection of the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University.
    Louise Nevelson (Pereiaslav, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 - 1988, New York, New York), "Moving-Static-Moving-Figure," 1947, terracotta, bronze, wood, paint, and casting, 21 3/8 x 14 1/2 x 11 1/2 in., On loan from the collection of the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University.

    Louise Nevelson (Pereiaslav, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 - 1988, New York, New York), "Moving-Static-Moving-Figure," 1947, terracotta, bronze, wood, paint, and casting, 21 3/8 x 14 1/2 x 11 1/2 in., On loan from the collection of the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University.

  • Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Striped Evening Muumuu," circa 1972, cotton, length: 56 in., Courtesy of Slobodkina Foundation. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.
    Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Striped Evening Muumuu," circa 1972, cotton, length: 56 in., Courtesy of Slobodkina Foundation. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

    Esphyr Slobodkina (Chelyabinsk, Russia, 1908 – 2002, Glen Head, New York), "Striped Evening Muumuu," circa 1972, cotton, length: 56 in., Courtesy of Slobodkina Foundation. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

  • Louise Nevelson (Pereiaslav, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 - 1988, New York, New York), "Dawn's Presence," 1972 - 1975, painted wood, 93 x 32 x 32 in., 3 x 32 x 32 in. (base), On loan from the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia: Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 77.1241.
    Louise Nevelson (Pereiaslav, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 - 1988, New York, New York), "Dawn's Presence," 1972 - 1975, painted wood, 93 x 32 x 32 in., 3 x 32 x 32 in. (base), On loan from the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia: Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 77.1241.

    Louise Nevelson (Pereiaslav, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 - 1988, New York, New York), "Dawn's Presence," 1972 - 1975, painted wood, 93 x 32 x 32 in., 3 x 32 x 32 in. (base), On loan from the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia: Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 77.1241.

In this exhibition, each woman’s story amplifies the other’s. In their artworks—which reveal the two as fellow travelers in the legacy of cubism, surrealism, and constructivism—assemblage is an important unifying theme. Works include found object sculptures, mixed media reliefs, collage, painting, jewelry, and clothing, including some of Nevelson’s most iconic fashion statements.

After the exhibition’s premiere at AMFA, it will go on tour to the Chrysler Museum of Art and the New Britain Museum of American Art in 2026.

Programs & Events

  • Member Preview Night

    October 2, 2025 / 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

    AMFA Members, Circle Society, and Corporate Partners enjoy an exciting first look at the exhibition during an exclusive reception.

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  • Toast & Tour

    October 3, 2025 / 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

    Circle Society and Corporate Partners are invited to a private tour and champagne toast with the exhibition's curator, Dr. Catherine Walworth.

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  • Monumental: Art Talk

    October 4, 2025 / 10:30 a.m.

    Explore how self-definition, structure, and materials shaped the lives and legacies of Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina.

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  • Family Fest

    October 18, 2025 / 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

    Drop in and discover art-making activities where you can build shadow-box sculptures, design wearable art, and sketch original fashion concepts.

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  • Constructing Identity: Art Talk

    October 29, 2025 / 6:00 p.m.

    Discover how Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina challenged conventions of art, design, and identity.

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  • Cocktails with the Curator

    January 7, 2026 / 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

    Raise a glass as we celebrate the success of this groundbreaking exhibition before it closes.

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  • Exhibition Tours

    October 4 & 18, December 13 / 10:30 a.m.

    Take a free guided tour through the exhibition with an AMFA docent to learn more about the works on view.

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Sponsors

Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina is supported in part by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Alan DuBois Fund for Contemporary Craft, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, Anita Davis, and The Jewish Federation of Arkansas.

The catalog for Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina is supported in part by the Wyeth Foundation for American Art.

This exhibition is organized by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.