Bertoia: The Metalworker

From chapel altarpieces and bronze fountains, to wire chairs and silver brooches, Harry Bertoia’s creative output was varied in the extreme. This book explores all aspects of the artist’s incredible creative output, from his jewelry and iconic furniture to his monoprints, architectural sculptures, and “sonambients” – clusters of metal rods that ring with hauntingly beautiful sound. It also includes previously unpublished material of Bertoia and his works.

Bertoia also explores his life story: his move from Italy to Detroit at 15; his formative years at Cranbrook; his work with Charles Eames and Knoll; through to his fascinating sound sculptures. In doing so, the book demonstrates how seemingly disparate works are in fact united in being reflections of nature, and places Bertoia’s art squarely at the heart of American modernism.