Many of you will have heard of Josef Albers and know of
his life long dedication: Homage to a Square.
But, what sparked off his life time’s absorption to this
abstraction?
I venture to offer that…a huge influence on his work, was
his wife and her life long dedication to abstract design
as demonstrated in her woven work.
Anni Albers and Josef worked as a team. Both were ahead of
their time with their daring stark abstractions.He became famous,
she did not. Yet her work, as well as Josef’s, influenced
many abstract painters to come.
Both children of the Bauhaus, Anni and Josef fled
the Nazi gas-chambers and ended up living in the States.
The Albers were a close couple who sparked off each
other creatively.On discovering Weaving, Anni gave up
Screen Printing and Lithography.
They founded the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, a non-
profit organisation….’to further the revelation and evocation
of vision through art.’
Anni was the first person to exhibit weaving in MOMA.
Inducted to the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame in 1994,
she is gradually gaining the recognition she deserves.
Anni Albers. 1899- 1994.