A new consideration of the playful and unsettling sculptures of H. C. Westermann, guiding figure of American conceptualism and craft

An acrobat, carpenter, railroad repairman, and two-time naval war veteran, sculptor H. C. Westermann (1922–1981) rose to prominence in Chicago in the 1950s with new forms inspired by his personal experiences. This overdue reassessment of an understudied artist includes stunning new photographs of Westermann's intricate and exceptionally crafted sculptures throughout his career. New essays by Giampaolo Bianconi and Thea Liberty Nichols explore his nonconformist attitudes about masculinity and his intense response to the horrors of war—a recurring theme in Westermann's sculpture following his return from service in the Korean War—as well as his experiments with wordplay, connection to conceptualism, and astonishing contributions to American art. An interview with artist Ed Ruscha, who knew and admired Westermann and his attention to craft, gives context to Westermann's complex role as an unpretentious father figure to American conceptual and pop artists.

Distributed for the Art Institute of Chicago

Exhibition Schedule:

Art Institute of Chicago

(May 2025–May 2026)