Alberto Giacometti, 1961 – photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson

This is Italian sculptor and painter, Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966) and he is the artist responsible for first expanding my understandings of what art is. I learned about his work in college where 3 semesters of Art History exposed me to many of the world’s greatest artists.

His slender, expressive human figure sculptures showed me feelings and emotions can be infused into a work of art and directly communicated by way of line, form and color. Giacometti’s pieces convey a sense of loneliness, isolation, distance and coldness. They bring to mind bitterness or pain that has affected the growth of the soul. It’s as if what we are seeing are the shriveled, tired and despairing interiors of the figures.

Giacometti’s work challenged me to set down my convictions that art should always be realistic looking. I have this image of Giacometti framed and hanging by my studio desk to remind me always to be open-minded and to allow space for new ideas.