“It was a magical process to pull the clay out of the mold and see the face appear” — Lilli Lanier, Asawa’s granddaughter
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The Faces of Ruth Asawa, Cantor Arts Center, 1966-2000
“It was a magical process to pull the clay out of the mold and see the face appear” — Lilli Lanier, Asawa’s granddaughter
Installation view, The Faces of Ruth Asawa, Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University. Photo by Glen Cheriton. Artwork © 2023 RAL, Inc.
Installation view, The Faces of Ruth Asawa, Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University. Photo by Glen Cheriton.
Artwork © 2023 RAL, Inc.
Asawa's son Paul Lanier made three life vessels with the ashes of Asawa, husband Albert Lanier, and son Adam. Photo by Glen Cheriton. Artwork © 2023 RAL, Inc.
Ruth Asawa teaching the face casting process to school children, c. 1989. Photo by Terry Schmitt.
Ruth Asawa casting the face of Tommy Roberts, a well-known puppeteer in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood.
Ruth Asawa casting one of many of her sitter's face in plaster.
Life cast masks installed on the exterior of Ruth Asawa's San Francisco home, c. 1991. Photo by Laurence Cuneo. Artwork © 2023 RAL, Inc.
Life cast masks installed on the exterior of Ruth Asawa's San Francisco home, c. 1991. Photo by Laurence Cuneo.
Artwork © 2023 RAL, Inc.
Ruth Asawa sketching a crying baby in the studio of her Noe Valley home with life cast masks in the background. Artwork © 2023 RAL, Inc.
Ruth Asawa sketching a crying baby in the studio of her Noe Valley home with life cast masks in the background.
Artwork © 2023 RAL, Inc.