"Wonder and awe": The art of Ruth Asawa

January 25, 2026

TL;DR

Ruth Asawa's San Francisco Fountain in Union Square is rich with Bay Area details, described as a "Where's Waldo?" due to its numerous hidden elements.
Asawa's commitment to community and ability to create art from everyday materials is highlighted by her children.
She is best known for her looped-wire sculptures, made from economical and industrial materials like wire.
Asawa learned to draw during her internment in a World War II detention camp, receiving lessons from Disney animators.
She honed her artistic skills at Black Mountain College with mentors like Josef Albers and Merce Cunningham.
Her sculptures are dynamic, changing as the viewer moves around them, and their complexity can sometimes be understood through their shadows.
Asawa was known to cast faces of visitors, even strangers, for her art.
Despite limited commercial success during her life, her work now fetches high prices at auction.
Her children hope her art inspires wonder and encourages people to create and pass on their own skills.

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