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ALICE ADAMS 

American, b. 1930

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EDUCATION:  

Ecole Nationale d’Art Décoratif, Aubusson, France, 1953–1954.    

Columbia University BFA, 1953.

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TEACHING: 

School of Visual Arts, NY 1980–1986.

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY 1979–1980.

Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY 1960–1980.

California State College in Los Angeles, CA 1965.

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS: 

2023        Zürcher Gallery, New York.

2018        David Hall Fine Art, Wellesley, MA.

2000        Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, NY.

1983        Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, NY.

1981        Hal Bromm Gallery, NYC.

1980        Artemesia Gallery, Chicago, IL.

1979        Hal Bromm Gallery, NYC.

1974        55 Mercer Gallery, NYC.

1973        55 Mercer Gallery, NYC.

1963        J. Blumenfeld Gallery, NYC.

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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

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2023       "On Balance, New Work by American Abstract Artists," Curated by Mary Birmingham, ART CAKE,                      Brooklyn, NY

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2021       ​"Groundings—dialogues between contemporary and historic members of American Abstract                           Artists," Curated by Jason Andrew

 

2019       "SNOWJOB," Hal Bromm Gallery, New York, NY.

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               "Making Knowing: Craft in Art, 1950–2019," Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY.

                Open 2019-2021. 

 

2018       “Blurring Boundaries, The Women of AAA, 1936-Present,” University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.

 

2016       “Drawing for Sculpture” Curated by Courtney Puckett, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Brooklyn, NY.

               “40: The Anniversary Exhibition,” Hal Bromm, New York, NY.

 

2014       “Sensory Impact,” Morgan Stanley International, Purchase, NY.

 

2013        “Potential Fields... A Meandering Algorithm,” Clermont State Historic Site, Clermont, NY.

                "Forty-for Forty,” Fortieth Anniversary Exhibition, Artpark Gallery, Lewiston, NY.

                “Composite Landscapes: Photomontage and Landscape Architecture,” Isabella Stewart Gardiner                     Museum, Boston, MA.

                “American Abstract Artists Print Portfolio,” Brattleboro Museum of Art, VT.

 

2012        “Materializing Six Years”, Lucy Lippard and the Emergence of Conceptual Art, Brooklyn Museum, 

                 NY (award for best thematic museum show in NYC in 2012 by the International Association of Art                     Critics).

 

2011        “Splendor of Dynamic Structure: Celebrating 75 Years of the American Abstract Artists,

                 Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Ithaca, NY.

                “American Abstract Artists: 75 Years,” OK Harris Gallery, NYC.

 

2010        “Artpark:1974–1984,” University of Buffalo Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.

 

2008        “Decoys, Complexes and Triggers, Feminism and Land Art in the 1970’s,”

                Sculpture Center, NYC.

 

2000        “Earthworks on Paper,” 871 Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA. Catalog essay by Ted Purves.

 

1998        “Abstraction,” Edwin I. Ulrich Museum, Wichita, KS.

                “Footfalls,” Greenport, NY.

 

1997        “A Long Look at Fifth Avenue,” collaboration with Ken Smith, Landscape Architect, Municipal Art                       Society, NYC.

 

1994        “Art en Route: MTA Art for Transit,” Payne-Webber Gallery, NY.

                “Art for Learning,” projects commissioned by the NYC Board of Education, 

                 Municipal Art Society, NYC.

                “Hunter College Invitational,” Hunter College Galleries, NYC.

 

1993        “Contemporary Public Art in the Bronx,” Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, NY.

                “Studio to Site, Public Art in New York City,” Sidney Mishkin Gallery, Baruch College, NYC.

 

1989        “Lines of Vision: Drawings by Contemporary Women,” Hillwood Art Gallery,

                 Long Island University, NY and Blum-Helman Gallery, NY.

 

1988        “Westside Waterfront Competition: Prizewinning Entries,” (with Alan Finkel), Municipal Art Society,                     Urban Center, NY.

 

1987        “Standing Ground: Sculpture by American Women,” Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinatti, OH.

 

1986        “American Abstract Artists—1936–1986,”Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx,NY.

                “House and Garden,” Nassau County Museum of Fine Arts, Roslyn, NY.

 

1985        “Builtwork/Installation,” Sarah Lawrence College Gallery, Bronxville, NY.

 

1984        “An International Survey of Painting and Sculpture,” The Museum of Modern Art, NYC.

 

                “Exhibition of Works by Newly Elected Members and Recipients of Honors and Awards," American                   Institute of Arts and Letters, NYC.

 

1982        “Women Sculptor’s Drawing,” Max Hutchinson Gallery, NYC.

 

1980        “Special Project Installation,” PS1, Long Island City, NY.

                “Architectural References,” Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art, CA.

 

1979        “The Artist’s View,” Wave Hill, Riverdale, NY.

 

1978        “Architectural Analogues,” Whitney Museum Downtown, NYC.

                “Dwellings,” Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, PA.

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1977        “Wood,” Nassau County Museum of Fine Art, Roslyn, NY.

 

1976        “Four Sculptors,” (Adams, Aycock, Ferrara, Miss), Williams College Museum, Williamstown, MA.

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1974        “Painting and Sculpture Today,” Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN.

 

 

1973        “Biennial,” Whitney Museum of American Art,” NYC.

 

1972        “American Women Artists Show,” Kunsthaus, Hamburg, Germany.

 

1971        “Sculpture Annual,” Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC.

                 Penthouse Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, NYC.

                “Artists at Work,” Finch College Museum, NYC.

 

1966        “Eccentric Abstraction," Fischbach Gallery, NYC.

                “Miniature Tapestries,” Museum of Contemporary Craft, NYC.

 

1965        "American Abstract Artists Annual," Riverside Museum, NYC

 

1963        “Woven Forms,” Museum of Contemporary Craft, NYC.

 

1961        “American Tapestries,” Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK.

 

1958        “Fulbright Designers,” Museum of Contemporary Crafts, NYC.

 

1957        Bertha Schaefer Gallery, NY.

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PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:

Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY

Weatherspoon Gallery, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC.

Sheldon Memorial Gallery, Lincoln, NE.

Edwin I. Ulrich Museum, Wichita, KS.

Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University, NJ.

Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY.

Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

New York City Board of Education, NY.

City of Denver, CO.

Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY.

Whitney Museum of American Art, NY.

Indianapolis Museum of Art, IN.
Bruce Museum, Greenwich, CN.

Princeton Museum of Fine Art, Princeton, NJ.

New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ.

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN.

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GRANTS AND AWARDS:     

Rockefeller Foundation Residency, Bellagio Study & Conference Center, Italy 2002

Pritzker Foundation Fellowship, Djerasssi Colony, Woodside, CA 1997.

Design for Transportation National Awards, 1996.

American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Award in Sculpture, 1984.

Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, 1981–1982.

Short-term Fellow in the Humanities, Princeton University, NJ 1980.

National Endowment for the Arts, Artists Fellowship, 1978–1979, 1984–1985.

CAPS Grant, 1972–1973, 1976–1977.

French Government Fellowship, Fulbright Travel Grant to Aubusson, 1953–1954.          

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SITE WORKS:

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2022        Klosterruine, Berlin, Germany. "Prototypical Triangle: Berlin Church Roof Destroyed on April 3rd,                        1945, Reimagined"

 

1985        Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY. “Blue Line”.

 

1983        Bemis Park, Omaha, NE. “Vertical Up for OOIC”.

                Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY. “Roof Landing”.

 

1982        Belmont Park, Dayton, OH. “From the Center”.

 

1980        Princeton University, Princeton, NJ. “Mound for Viewing Slope and Sky”.

 

1979        Wave Hill, Riverdale, NY. “The Lost House”.

 

1978        Queensborough Community College, Bayside, NY “Three Structures on a Slope”.

 

1977        Artpark, Lewiston, NY. “Shorings”.

 

1977        Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA. “Leveling”.

                Nassau County Museum of Fine Arts, Roslyn, NY. “Adams’ House”.

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PERMANENT COMMISSIONS: 

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2005        Veteran’s Memorial Home, Vineland, NJ, “Wall of the Tides.” A project for the New Jersey

                Council on the Arts.

 

2004        Montclair State University Station New Jersey Transit, Little Falls, NJ. “Habitat.”

 

2000        North Terminal, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport, FL. “Stone and Glass Gardens.”

 

2000        University of Delaware, Newark, DE, “Scroll Circle.”

 

1997        University of Texas at San Antonio, TX, “Healer’s Spring.”

 

1994        Denver International Airport, Denver, CO, “Beaded Circle Crossing.”

 

1992        The Riverview Hospital for Children and Youth, Middletown, CT, “The River.” A percent-for-art

                project of the State of Connecticut.

 

1992        P.S. 12, Brooklyn, New York, “African Garden.” 

                A percent-for-art project of the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs. 

 

1991        Thomas Jefferson University, “The Roundabout.” A percent-for-art project of the Redevelopment                      Authority of the City of Philadelphia, PA.

 

1990        Bathgate Industrial Park, Bronx, NY. “Glider Park”.

                A percent-for-art project of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

 

1984        Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo, OH. “Small Park with Arches”.

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DESIGN TEAMS AND MASTER PLANS: 

2005–       Charlotte Area Transit System. Charlotte, NC, Art Master Plan,

2008         Systemwide work in 90 locations.

 

1994–       Ronkonkoma Station, Long Island Railroad, “Planting.”

1995         A project of the New York City MTA.

 

1994        Soryocho, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, “Haizuka Dam Earthworks            Project."

 

1988–       MetroLink Transit System St. Louis, MO. 

1990         Design of new light–rail Transit System.

 

1988         Lawrence, MA, “Worker’s Place Park.”

 

1985–      Downtown Seattle Transit Project, Seattle, WA,

1990        International District Station Plaza and Convention Place Station.

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SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY – PERIODICALS:

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2020       Mdivani, Nina. "'Making Knowing: Craft in Art, 1950-2019' at the Whitney Museum of American Art,                   NYC," Art Fuse, October 17th. 

 

2019       Murtha, Chris. "Crafting Art: “Making Knowing” at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York,"                   Mousse Magazine.

 

2018       McQuaid, Cate. "Rawness and Mystery in the Early Work of Alice Adams," The Boston Globe,                           December 12.

 

2012       Spayder Jon. “Public Art and Placemaking” Public Art Review, Fall/Winter, p. 24.

 

2011       MacAdam Barbara. “American Abstract Artists:  OK Harris Work of Art” (exhibition review)                                 Art News, October 2011, p. 107.

 

2008       Boettger, Suzann. “Excavating Land Art by Women in the 1970’s: Discoveries and Oversights,”                         Sculpture, November.

 

2007       Rosenberg, Karen.  “This Land is Her Land (And Her Artwork Too) Decoys, Complexes,Triggers,”                     The New York Times, Friday, June 13.

 

2005       “Commissions: Alice Adams,” [Habitat], Sculpture, vol. 24, #7, September.

 

2001       “2000 in Review, Public Art,” Art in America Annual Guide, vol.88, p.50 (photo).

             

               “Recent Projects,” [Scroll Circle]. Public Art Review,vol.13, #1,issue 25, p. 48.

 

               “Commissions: Alice Adams,” [Scroll Circle], Sculpture, vol. 21, #8, October

 

2000       Perera, Nishan. “Alice Adams is Sculptor, Architect and Landscape Designer All in One,” The                           Riverdale Press, February 24.

                   

               “Scale Models of Projects that Grace Cities,” The New York Times, Sun. April 9, p. 16.

               

               Goodman, Jonathan. “Alice Adams,” Art News, (NY Reviews), vol. 19, #8, October, p. 62.

               

               McAdam, Barbara.  “Alice Adams,”  Art News, (NY Reviews), vol. 99, #8,      September.

 

1999       Moss, Marsha and Robin Rice. “Philadelphia,” Sculpture, July.

 

1998       “Recent Projects,” [San Antonio Project] Public Art Review, vol. 10, #1, issue 19.

 

1997       “A Long Look at Fifth Avenue,”  Municipal Art Society Newsletter, May-June.

                 

               “Fifth Avenue: Designers and Critics Talk,” Municipal  Art Society Newsletter, July-Aug. 

             

               Louis, Elaine. “Spaceships? No, Just Chandeliers,” The New York Times, July 3.

 

1995       Huebner, Jeff. “Holding Pattern,” New Art Examiner, vol. 22, issue 10, Summer 1995, pp. 24-29                         (photo).

                   

              “1994 in Review, Public Art.” Art in America Annual Guide, vol. 83, number 8, p.35 photo.

 

1994        Adams, Alice. “St. Louis MetroLink;  Changing the Rules of Transit Design,” Places.

                Emily Blumenthal. “St. Louis, A Design Team Collaboration,” Maquette Magazine, December,

                pp. 8-13.

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               Wickersham, Claire. “Percent-for-Art: Variations on a Theme,” Public Art Review, Issue 9, Vol. 5, #1,                   Fall-Winter 1993, p. 11 (photo).

 

               van Wesemael, Maarten. “The Green Heart of Holland project, case studies,” Concept,

               pp. 29, 31, 35.

 

              “Art for Learning,” catalog for Municipal Art Society exhibition of projects commissioned by the                         N.Y.C. Board of Education during the 1990-1994 capital plan.

 

1993       Colin Poitras. “Artist Gives Patients Taste of Nautical Life,” The Hartford Courant, December 14.

 

1992       NEWS, “Jefferson in Philadelphia,” Landscape Architecture, June.

 

1991       Donald J. Canty. “Architectural Underground,” Architectural Record, (centennial issue) July,

               pp.  212-221.

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               Godfrey, Jean. “Melee in the Metro,” Contract Design, June, pp. 35-40.

 

1990       Grimly, Terry. “Heady Days for Public Art,” The Birmingham Post, Birmingham, England, April 26.

 

               Canty, Donald J. “Sparkling Station,” Record Lighting (supplement to Architectural Record), August,                 cover, and pp. 28-31.

 

1989       Glowen, Ron. “Transit Tunnel Dialogue Team Notes, Creating Public Places,” Public Art Review,

               Vol. 1, #2, published by Forecast Public Artwork, Minneapolis, MN, pp. 8, 17.

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               Kay, Jane Holtz. “Honoring the Quick and the Dead,” Landscape Architecture, January.

 

1987       Stevens, Albert. “The Downtown Seattle Project,” L’Arca, Milan, June, pp. 56-61.

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               Essays by M. Paul Friedberg, Richard Plunz, Nicholas Quennel, Virginia Dajani. “New York Wanted

               a Waterfront,” Arredo Urbano, Rome, numero 27-28.

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               Clemens, Marilyn. “IFLA Congres Mondial 1988, Perspectives Internationales: "Communications

               and Collaborations,” Paysages et Amenagement, Societe Europienne de Presse et des Services,                     Paris, November, pp. 25-26.   

      

               Weiss, Glenn. “Seattle Art in the Tunnel,”  Progressive Architecture, November, pp. 23 and 28

 

1985       "Vertical Up for the OOIC: The Makiing of a Sculpture," Issue 2: A Journal for Artists, winter 1985.

 

1984       Marzorati, Gerald. “Your Show of Shows,” Art News. Vol. 83, No. 7, September, (photo).

 

1982       Linker, Kate. “Princeton: Alice Adams,” Art Forum, vol. XX, No. 9. Nov.

               

               Klein, Michael R. “Alice Adams: Mound for Viewing Slope and Sky, ”Art Express, May/June.

               

               Yalkut, Jud. “Sites for Vision,” Dialogue, October.

               

               Cone, Michelle. “L’Invasion Neo-expressionniste a New York". Vie des Arts. Vol. XXVII, Numero 105,                 Automne (photo).

 

1981       Zimmer, William. “Adams’ Eaves,” The SoHo Weekly News, April.

                

               Cone, Michelle. “Review,” Art Express, September.

                

               Nadelman, Cynthia. “New York Reviews,” Art News, vol. 80, No. 9, Nov.

 

1980       Linker, Kate. “An Anti-Architectural Analogue,” Flash Art, January/February, pp.94-95.

               

               Radice, Barbara. “La Chiamano (Architectural Sculpture),” Casa Vogue, June, No. 107, p. 157.

 

1979       Kingsley, April. “Art,” The Village Voice, January 29.

               

               Malen, Lenore. “Alice Adams,” Arts, vol. 53, No. 9, May, p. 13.

               

               Ashbery, John. “The Sculptures of Summer,” New York Magazine, July 23. 

               

               Lippard, Lucy. “The Abstract Realism of Alice Adams,” Art in America, September.

 

1977       Lippard, Lucy. “Wood at the Nassau County Museum,” Art in America, vol. 65, No. 6, Nov–Dec.

               pp. 136-137.

               

               Perreault, John. “Outside the City: Lumber in the Woods,” SoHo Weekly News, July 21.

 

1974        Schjeldahl, Peter. “A Journey Well Worth Making,” The New York Times, January 20.

               

               John Perreault. “Concrete, Lath and Blue Silk,” The Village Voice, January 24.

 

1971       Wellish, Marjorie. “Material Extension in New Sculpture,” Arts, Summer.

 

1968       Adams, Alice. Artist’s statement and biography, color photo, Art Now: New York, July.

 

1967       Kafka, Barbara. “The Woven Structures of Alice Adams,” Craft Horizons.

               

               Lippard, Lucy. “Eccentric Abstraction,” Art International.

 

1963       Slivka, Rose. “The New Tapestry,” Craft Horizons, March–April, vol. XXIII, no. 2 p. 10-11.

               

               “Sculpture Tessute,” Domus, November, no.48.

 

 

1960       “New Talent,” Art in America, no.1, p.48, p.50, illus.

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                Finn, Gloria. “Alice Adams: The Fiber as Pattern,” (feature article), Craft Horizons, vol. XX, No. 3,                      May–June, pp. 16-20 and cover

 

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BOOKS AND CATALOGS:

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2023        Alice Adams, Works from 1964 to 2023, Zürcher Gallery, New York

 

2018        Alice Adams: Woven Forms and Post Minimal Sculpture 1959–1973. David Hall Fine Art.

 

2016        Humblet, Claudine. Postminimalism et Antiform: depassement de l’esthetique minimale. Skira                            Publishers, Milan, Italy. (text and photos p.       223–249).

 

2014        Composite Landscapes: Photomontage and Landscape Architecture. Isabella Stewart Gardener                      Museum, Hapje Cantz Verlag. (text and photos p. 150–151, 153).

 

2012        Bryan-Wilson, Julia. Materializing “Six Years”: Lucy R. Lippard and the Emergence of Conceptual                    Art. Published by the Brooklyn Museum and the MIT Press. (text and photo p. 5, 6, 100, 101). 

 

2010        Smith, Gary W. From Art to Landscape, Unleashing Creativity in Garden Design. Timber Press,                          Portland, OR. (photo and text p. 108, 109).

 

2009        Auther, Elissa. String, Felt, Thread: The Hierarchy of Art and Craft in American Art. University of                        Minnesota Press: Minneapolis, MN. (p. 1–3, 5– 7, 10, 30, 47, 183 n.12). 

               

                Derrick, Rachel. The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, The First 50 Years. The Rockefeller                      Foundation, NY. (photo and statement, p. 60, 61).

 

1999        Adorn the Halls: History of the Art Collection of Thomas Jefferson University. Published by Thomas                  Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. Edited by Malcolm Clendenin, (“The Roundabout” text and                    photos p. 534, 535, 536). 

 

1996        Reed, Christopher. Not at Home: The Suppression of Domesticity in Modern Art and Architecture.                    New York, NY: Thames and Hudson Limited, (photo of “Lost House” p. 261–262).

 

1995        Heller, Jules, and Nancy G. Heller. North American Women Artists of the 20th Century: A                                    Biographical Dictionary. New York: Garland. (p.9).

 

1993        The Worlds Airports—International Airports & Their Commercial Facilities.

                Shotenkenchhiku—Sha Co. Ltd. Yichi Arai. (photo of “Beaded Circle Crossing” Concourse B,                            Denver International Airport, p. 58).

 

1984        Oldenburg, Richard E. and Kynaston McShine. An International Survey of Recent Painting                                and Sculpture. The Museum of Modern Art, NY. (photos p.16,17).

 

1973        Constantine, Mildred, and Jack Lenor Larsen. Beyond Crafts, The Art of  Fabric. New York: Van                        Nostrand Rheinhold. (p. 45, 49–50).

 

1968        Kauffman, Ruth. The New American Tapestry. New York: Chapman-Reinhold.

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