The Postal Service will release stamps honoring Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa — best known for her abstract wire sculptures — Thursday, Aug. 13.
Asawa (1926-2013) began making single-layered sculptures in the 1940s, but soon discovered an ability to create intricate works with intersecting, multilayered surfaces.
Inspired by natural elements such as plants, snail shells, insect wings and water droplets, Asawa transformed industrial material into transparent sculptures that challenged traditional definitions of the art form.
Since her death, Asawa’s work has reached wider audiences, with highly acclaimed exhibitions and publications organized by major museums and galleries across the nation.
Her work has been praised for evoking an undersea world, a magical upside-down realm and other environments. An advocate of community-based arts education, Asawa also received attention for her drawings, paintings, prints and large public projects.
Ethel Kessler, a USPS art director, designed the Forever stamps using 10 photographs by Dan Bradica and Laurence Cuneo.
The 20-stamp pane’s selvage features a photograph of Asawa taken by Nat Farbman in 1954 for Life magazine.
The stamps will be available at Post Offices and usps.com.
Share your feedback at uspslink@usps.gov. Your comments could be included in the “Mailbag” column.
