Noguchi, Isamu

(born Nov. 17, 1904, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.—died Dec. 30, 1988, New York, N.Y.) U.S. sculptor and designer. He spent his early years in Japan. After premedical studies at Columbia University, he became Constantin Brancusi's assistant in Paris. He was influenced as well by Alberto Giacometti, Alexander Calder, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Mir. His medical training suggested to him the interrelatedness of bone and stone. Much of his work consists of elegantly abstracted, rounded forms in highly polished stone. His long collaboration with Martha Graham resulted in stage sets for many ballets, and he also designed many public sculptures, sculptural gardens, and playgrounds, as well as furniture.

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