Ursula von Rydingsvard

Ursula von Rydingsvard is a prominent sculptor whose career spans over five decades. 

Biography of Ursula von Rydingsvard

Ursula von Rydingsvard was born in 1942 in Deensen, Germany. Her educational journey includes an MFA from Columbia University, New York (1975), studies at the University of California, Berkeley (1970), and a BA and MA from the University of Miami, Coral Gables (1965). She also attended the University of New Hampshire, Durham, in 1962.

Von Rydingsvard's work is featured in the permanent collections of 40 museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, as well as the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Missouri, Storm King Art Center in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Her permanent commissioned sculptures are displayed in various public locations, such as the San Francisco International Airport, Stanford University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bloomberg Corporation, and Barclays Center in New York.

Recent solo museum exhibitions of her work include "Ursula von Rydingsvard: Nothing but Art," a touring retrospective in Poland, and "Ursula von Rydingsvard: The Contour of Feeling" at the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Pennsylvania.

She also had exhibitions at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in the UK, and a solo presentation at the 56th Venice Biennale in Italy. In 2019, a documentary feature about her practice, "Ursula von Rydingsvard: Into Her Own," was released.

Ursula von Rydingsvard's Art Style

Ursula von Rydingsvard is renowned for her large-scale, often monumental sculptures made from cedar beams. She meticulously cuts and assembles these beams, rubbing a graphite patina into their textured, faceted surfaces. Her abstract shapes often reference real-world objects such as vessels, bowls, and tools, while also evoking natural forms and forces. 

In addition to cedar, von Rydingsvard has explored other mediums such as bronze, paper, and resin in recent years, expanding her artistic vocabulary. Her large-scale bronze works are prominently displayed in public spaces, showcasing her versatility and the dynamic nature of her creations. The artist's approach is deeply rooted in the physical interaction with materials, resulting in pieces that are both visually striking and emotionally resonant.