Louise Bourgeois

Date of Birth: December 25, 1911

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: May 31, 2010

Biography

Louise Bourgeois was a French-American artist and sculptor renowned for her large-scale sculpture and installation art. Born on December 25, 1911, in Paris, France, Bourgeois was deeply influenced by her childhood experiences, particularly her complicated relationship with her parents. Her mother was a tapestry restorer, and her father had a history of infidelity, which haunted Bourgeois throughout her life and profoundly influenced her work. Bourgeois studied mathematics at the Sorbonne and later transitioned to art, studying under various teachers in Paris. In 1938, she moved to New York City after marrying American art historian Robert Goldwater. Her early work was largely in painting and printmaking, but she gradually shifted to sculpture in the late 1940s. Her work often explored themes of family, sexuality, and the subconscious, and she is perhaps best known for her “Spider” series, symbolizing both maternal strength and vulnerability. Bourgeois continued to create and exhibit her work well into her 90s, receiving numerous accolades, including retrospective exhibitions at major institutions like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London. She passed away on May 31, 2010, in New York City but left behind a legacy as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

5 Interesting Facts about Louise Bourgeois

1. Louise Bourgeois’ iconic spider sculptures, such as “Maman,” represent her mother, who was a weaver, and symbolize protection and nurturing.

2. She was one of the first women to have a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which took place in 1982.

3. Bourgeois was known for her intense emotional and psychological themes, often drawing from her own experiences with trauma and betrayal.

4. She was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in 1997.

5. Louise Bourgeois continued to work actively as an artist until her death at the age of 98, often citing her art as a means of coping with her psychological pain.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Louise Bourgeois

1. “Art is a guarantee of sanity.”

2. “I have been to hell and back, and let me tell you, it was wonderful.”

3. “The spider—why the spider? Because my best friend was my mother and she was deliberate, clever, patient, soothing, reasonable, dainty, subtle, indispensable, neat, and useful as a spider.”

4. “You can’t always be a daughter. You have to earn your independence.”

5. “My childhood has never lost its magic, it has never lost its mystery, and it has never lost its drama.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Louise Bourgeois’ highest net worth was estimated to be around $20 million at the time of her death.

Children

Louise Bourgeois had three children with her husband Robert Goldwater: one biological son, Jean-Louis Bourgeois, and two adopted sons, Alain Bourgeois and Michel Bourgeois.