Hedda Sterne

Date of Birth: August 4, 1910

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: April 8, 2011

Biography

Hedda Sterne was a Romanian-born American artist who played a significant role in the New York School of Abstract Expressionism. Born on August 4, 1910, in Bucharest, Romania, Sterne studied art history and philosophy at the University of Bucharest. She fled Europe in 1941 due to the rising threat of Nazi persecution and settled in New York City, where she became part of the burgeoning art scene. Sterne was the only woman in the famous “Irascibles” photograph published in *Life* magazine in 1951, which featured prominent Abstract Expressionist artists who protested the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exclusion of modern American painters. Throughout her career, Sterne’s work was characterized by its diversity in style and medium, ranging from surrealism and abstract expressionism to portraits and landscapes. She was known for her innovative use of materials and techniques, often incorporating elements such as spray paint and stencils. Despite her substantial contributions to the art world, Sterne remained somewhat underrecognized in comparison to her male counterparts, a fact she both acknowledged and accepted with grace. Sterne continued to create art well into her later years and maintained a prolific output until her passing. Her works are held in major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the National Gallery of Art.

5 Interesting Facts about Hedda Sterne

1. Hedda Sterne was the only woman featured in the iconic “Irascibles” photograph by *Life* magazine in 1951.

2. She fled Nazi-occupied Europe and emigrated to the United States in 1941.

3. Sterne was married to sculptor Saul Steinberg, a fellow Romanian émigré and noted artist.

4. Her work spanned a variety of styles, including surrealism, abstract expressionism, and portraiture.

5. Sterne lived to be 100 years old, continuing her artistic practice almost until her death.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hedda Sterne

1. “I knew I was not a painter, but it’s the only way I could live.”

2. “I never belonged anywhere and I never wanted to belong.”

3. “For me, art was a way of living, not a career.”

4. “My work is an effort to say something about the process of seeing.”

5. “I paint because I have to; it’s not a choice.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Hedda Sterne’s highest net worth achieved was not widely publicized, but her works have been sold at major auction houses and are part of prestigious collections, indicating significant value.