This first comprehensive account of a mid-century master covers the
multi-faceted career of a fine artist, graphic designer, teacher, and
publisher. It reflects Norman Ives's timeless relevance in the visual
arts.
Norman Ives: Constructions & Reconstructions is an in-depth
chronicle of the spirit and genius of master fine artist and renowned
graphic designer Norman Ives. This book introduces unseen treasures
showcasing the brilliant variety and vitality of his work. It fully
defines Ives's signature use of letterform fragments. These became the
lyrical strokes of his abstract constructions and reconstructions. The
book is in itself a work of art.
Ives's design and art anticipates the percolating type-as-art movement
popularized by Robert Indiana's LOVE sculptures. Type-related art has
since become ubiquitous in painting and sculpture, as well as other
massive architectural "type works." Ives's work fits squarely into this
genre having roots in the early 20th-century Modern movement.
Ives was part of Josef Albers' restructured Yale School of Art which
transformed the traditional teaching of graphic design, leading it
towards a more demanding and thoughtful profession. Ives was a rare
artist who was recognized for his innovative work in design. However,
his vision extended well beyond the field of graphic design. His
paintings and collages are collected by major museums: The 1967 Whitney
Annual exhibition of American painting, the Guggenheim Museum, Yale
University Art Gallery and various other institutions.
