The Most Famous Assemblage Artists of All Time

Posted on Nov 09, 2022

Assemblage art is a unique and dynamic medium that has been gaining popularity in the art world for decades. At its core is the process of creating art by combining found objects and materials to create sculptures, collages, and installations. The artists in this medium are known for their creativity, resourcefulness, and ability to turn everyday materials into works of art.

The history of assemblage art is a rich and varied one, with many notable and influential figures who have made significant contributions to the field. From the surrealist and abstract works of Joseph Cornell and Robert Rauschenberg to the politically charged installations of Edward Kienholz, these artists have pushed the boundaries of traditional art forms and created thought-provoking and powerful works.

In this article, we will look at some of the most famous assemblage artists of all time and explore their work, their impact on the art world, and what makes them so inspirational. Whether you are a seasoned art collector or just starting to explore the world of assemblage, this article will give you a deeper understanding of this fascinating medium and the artists who have helped to shape it.

1) Joseph Cornell

Joseph Cornell was an American artist and sculptor best known for his "shadow boxes," which are small, three-dimensional collages enclosed in a glass-fronted box. Cornell's works are characterized by their dreamlike, mystical quality and often include a mix of found objects, such as glassware, textiles, and photographs, as well as his own drawings and collages. Some of his most famous works include "Medici Slot Machine," which features a wooden box containing a mechanical toy and various found objects, "Century of Progress," a reference to the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, which features a collage of photographs, prints and drawings, and "Hotel Eden," which features an intricately designed box filled with various found objects.

2) Robert Rauschenberg

Robert Rauschenberg was an American artist who worked in various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and printmaking. He is best known for his "combines," which are a type of assemblage that combines painting with sculpture and found objects. Rauschenberg's combines often incorporate unconventional materials such as dirt, wax, and even live animals. Some of his most famous works include "Monogram," a combine that features a taxidermied goat with a tire around its middle, "Bed," a combine that features an actual bed with paint smears and pen markings on it, and "Rebus," which is an oil painting with collage elements added to it.

3) Louise Nevelson

Louise Nevelson was an American sculptor best known for her large-scale, monochromatic wooden assemblages. Nevelson's sculptures are characterized by their geometric shapes and the use of found objects such as old doors and furniture. Some of her most famous works include "Sky Cathedral," a large-scale sculpture made from found wooden pieces painted in a uniform black, "Dawn's Wedding Feast," a sculpture made from found objects arranged ceremonially and "Black Zag X," a sculpture made of painted wood that evokes a sense of architecture or a cityscape.

4) Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter, sculptor, and printmaker widely considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He is known for co-founding the Cubist movement, which sought to represent multiple viewpoints in a single painting. He is best known for works such as "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," a painting that depicts five women in a brothel and is considered a masterpiece of the Cubist movement, "Guernica," a painting that depicts the horror of the bombing of a Spanish town during the Spanish Civil War, and "The Old Guitarist," a painting that depicts an emaciated old man playing the guitar.

5) Kurt Schwitters

Kurt Schwitters was a German artist best known for his collages called Merz pictures. He used found materials such as newspapers, tickets, and bus transfers to create abstract compositions. Merz picture is a collage of materials like newspapers, tickets, and other found objects that characterized by fragmented letters, words, and geometric shapes. Some of his famous artworks include "Merzbau" a large sculpture made of debris, an architectural feature and an installation art, which he worked on for more than 10 years, and "Untitled (The Canyon)" which is a collage of newspaper clippings, and other found materials.

6) Man Ray

Man Ray was an American artist who spent much of his career in France. He was a prominent member of the Dada and Surrealist movements and is known for his avant-garde photography and film, as well as his paintings and sculptures. He is known for using photograms, which are created by placing objects directly onto light-sensitive paper, and his signature 'Rayograph' technique. Some of his famous artworks include "Noire et Blanche," a photograph of a chess set that exemplifies the Surrealist exploration of the subconscious mind, "Violon d'Ingres," a photograph of a woman with a fiddle-shaped back, which was a representation of the ideal of feminine beauty and "Le Cadeau" A sculpture made of iron, wood, and paint, which represents a wrapped box with ambiguous contents.

7) Jean Tinguely

Jean Tinguely was a Swiss painter and sculptor best known for his sculptural machines or kinetic art, which often incorporated found objects. Tinguely's sculptures are often large, complex constructions made of materials such as metal, wood, and mechanical parts. He is known for creating sculptures that move in unexpected ways, and many of his works feature elements that rotate, spin or move in other ways. His famous artworks include "Homage to New York," a sculpture made of various found mechanical parts and scrap materials that self-destructed during its exhibition in a New York City gallery, and "Meta-Matrix," a sculpture made of interconnected machines and gears that move in coordinated motion.

8) George Herms

George Herms was an American artist known for his assemblage, collage, and sculpture work. Herms' work is often characterized by using found and repurposed materials, such as driftwood, broken glass, and discarded metal. He is known for creating works exploring memory and decay themes, and his artworks often have a sense of nostalgia and longing. He is considered one of the key figures of the West Coast assemblage movement that emerged in the 1950s and 60s. He created many sculptures, mixed media pieces, collages, and assemblages that draw on the surrounding urban and industrial environments and incorporates everyday materials.

9) Lee Bontecou

Lee Bontecou is an American sculptor and printmaker known for her large-scale abstract sculptures and wall reliefs. Her work combines industrial materials such as steel and canvas with natural elements like sand and rocks. Her sculptures often feature voids or openings that suggest unseen interior spaces and often evoke a sense of movement and energy. Her wall reliefs incorporate found objects and debris, creating a sense of depth and layering. She is considered one of the key figures of the 1960s art movement known as "Linchpin of the New York School." Some of her famous artworks include "Untitled (1960)", a large-scale sculpture made of welded steel and canvas, and "Untitled (1959)," a wall relief that incorporates found objects, debris, and organic materials.

10) Edward Kienholz

Edward Kienholz was an American installation artist and assemblage sculptor known for his work dealing with social and political issues such as poverty, racism, and prostitution. His works often use found objects and everyday materials in a powerful and thought-provoking way. His sculptures and installations often depict scenes of injustice and suffering, and his work has been described as raw, powerful, and confrontational. Some of his famous artworks include "The Illegal Operation," an installation that depicts the horror of illegal abortion, "Back Seat Dodge '38," an installation that captures the seedy atmosphere of the American road trip; and "The Beanery," an installation that depicts the lives of the down and out in a run-down bar.

Assemblage art is a form of art that uses found objects, materials, and other elements to create sculptures, collages, and installations. It is a versatile medium that allows artists to explore different themes, concepts, and techniques. The artists listed above, Joseph Cornell, Robert Rauschenberg, Louise Nevelson, Pablo Picasso, Kurt Schwitters, Man Ray, Jean Tinguely, George Herms, Lee Bontecou, and Edward Kienholz are considered some of the most notable and influential figures in the history of assemblage art.

Each artist has their unique style, medium, and approach, but they all have significantly impacted the art world and have continued to inspire and influence other artists. They have pushed the boundaries of traditional art forms and created thought-provoking, powerful and impactful works. They have proven that assemblage art can express various ideas and emotions and that it can be just as powerful and meaningful as other forms of fine art.