Barbara Edelstein
The visceral sculpture of Barbara Edelstein utilize a conceptual approach to the composition of organic structures. Each piece contemplates the transcendental connection of nature and culture and reflects the dualism of American and Asian culture.
Born in California and based in Shanghai and New York, Barbara Edelstein received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has been featured in shows in New York, Los Angeles, and other cities in the U.S. as well as in Europe, and has an array of solo exhibitions and public sculptures in China.
Series
Elemental Spring
Leaf Books
“I have created books made of copper leaves, interlaced at the stems, so that we can study the intricacies of natureʼs wisdom.”
Root Vine Drawings 2010
“These drawings are based on my sculpture, Elemental Spring: Harmony. A tangle of roots and vines, reaching to the sky.”
With Breeze Part 2
“The motivation for my work has been to develop a viable vision for our cities by integrating our metropolitan surroundings with the natural landscape. Because an ideal urban system can be thought of as a reflection of the natural system, if we look to nature for our methods and inspiration, we will create a more harmonious urban/natural habitat. By developing environments combining both natural and industrial aspects, I have found a way to unite the human-made world with the natural world to benefit both and to renew the balance.”
2014 – “Nature • Reflection,” Ruth Bachofner Gallery – Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
2012 – “Line Inflections,” East Bund Art Center – Shanghai, China
2012 – “Leaf • Branch • Shadow,” Front Line Contemporary – Shanghai, China
2010 – “Flowing Leaf • Floating Water,” Elisabeth de Brabant Art Center – Shanghai, China
2007 – “Alternative Landscape,” 140 sqm Gallery – Shanghai, China
2007 – “Mirage Garden Part 6,” South Beauty Garden – Shanghai, China (in collaboration with Jian-Jun Zhang)
2005 – “Garden of Wishing Trees,” Maiden Lane Exhibition Space – New York, New York, U.S.A.
2002 – Museum of the Shenzhen Art Institute, Shenzhen, China – Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
2000 – “Elemental Spring,” The Room With a View Gallery – Shanghai, China
1993 – “Sayan,” Intersection for the Arts Gallery – San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
1988 – “Il Segreto Nascosto Sotto i Rami,” P.S.1 – New York, New York, U.S.A.
1987 – “Cala dell’ Elefante,” “Morteratsch,” “Pantelleria,” P.S.1 – New York, New York, U.S.A.
1985 – “Sculpture as Fountains,” 3rd Street Mall – Santa Monica, California, U.S.A.
1984 – “Installation/Corrugations,” Claremont Graduate University – Claremont, California, U.S.A.
1977 – “Fiber Sculpture,” University of California- Santa Cruz, U.S.A.
2013
“Reflections • Nature,” Ruth Bachofner Gallery – Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
“Dialogue with Ming Dynasty Artists: Contemporary Artists’ Attitudes Towards Chinese Tradition,” Zhu QiZhan Museum – Shanghai, China
“Wind Dream Part 3,” 10th Shanghai International Science and Art Exhibition, Shanghai Exhibition Center – Shanghai, China
“Insightful Charisma,” Shanghai Himalaya Museum – Shanghai, China
2012
“A New Spirit in Ink: An Exhibition of Cutting Edge Ink Art,” Art Institute Museum – Tianjin, China
“City Text: International Contemporary Art Exhibition of Ten Artists,” East China Normal University Gallery – Shanghai, China
“Culture Shanghai: A Return Oriented Towards the Future,” Shanghai Sculpture Space – Shanghai, China
“Undoing Shuimo – Contemporary Shuimo Exhibition,” Shanghai Duolun Museum of Art – Shanghai, China
“A New Spirit in Ink: An Exhibition of Cutting Edge Ink Art,” Zendai Contemporary Art Space – Shanghai, China
“Leaves,” 55/5 Space – New York, New York, U.S.A.
“Water/Ink Biennial,” DaFen Art Museum – Shenzhen, China
2011
“Sofia Paper Biennial,” National Gallery of Foreign Art – Sofia Bulgaria
“Nature and Its Modern Forms,” Ming Yuan Art Center – Shanghai, China
2010
“Sea Level (Hai Ping Xian),” Shanghai Artists’ Association, Shanghai Painting & Institute Museum – Shanghai, China
“City Fantasy,” Jing’An International Sculpture Project – Shanghai, China
“Inaugural Exhibit,” 1933 Art Pavilion, Elisabeth de Brabant Art Center – Shanghai, China
“Story,” Ming Yuan Art Center – Shanghai, China
“Women on Women,” Hong Miao Gallery – Shanghai, China
2009
“Miniature Artists’ Books,” part of the 4th Baku Biennial, Azerbaijan Museum – Baku, Azerbaijan
“Ink Society,” Sunshine International Museum, Song Zhuang – Beijing, China
“In-Situ: A Dialogue with Space and Time,” River South Art Center – Shanghai, China
“Contemporary Ink Painting 2009: Shanghai New Ink Painting Art Exhibition,” Duolun Museum of Modern Art – Shanghai, China
“A Starting Point: Intrude 366 – Dynamics of Change and Growth,” Zendai Museum of Modern Art – Shanghai, China
2008
“3rd XiHu International Sculpture Exhibition” – Hangzhou, China
“HongKou Stones,” part of “Intrude: Art & Life 266,” Zendai Museum of Modern Art – Shanghai, China
“Inaugural Exhibit Volume 2,” Uwantart Gallery – Shanghai, China
2007
“3rd International Art Festival,” Rajamangala University – Poh-Chang, Bangkok, Thailand
“Language/Environment,” Museum of Contemporary Art Beijing – Beijing, China
2006
“Entry Gate: Chinese Aesthetics of Heterogeneity,” 1st Envisage, Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai – Shanghai, China
“Close to Home,” BlockParty Brooklyn – New York, New York, U.S.A.
2005
“100 Years of Chinese Sculpture,” Shanghai Sculpture Center – Shanghai, China
“1st International Sculpture Biennale,” Xu Jia Hui Park – Shanghai, China
“Poles Apart Poles Together: Markers V,” Venice Biennale – Venice, Italy
“Garden of Wishing Trees,” Maiden Lane Exhibition Space – New York, New York, U.S.A.
2004
“Artist’s Do a Book,” Plum Blossoms Gallery – New York, New York, U.S.A.
“A Grain of Dust A Drop of Water,” The 5th Gwangju Biennale – Gwangju, Korea
“Urban Sculptures for Shanghai Pudong,” (Finalists) Urban Design Museum of Shanghai – Shanghai, China
Urban Sculptures for Shanghai Pudong” (Semifinalists), New International Center – Shanghai, China
2003
“Milestones for Peace,” Stadtmuseum Wiesbaden – Wiesbaden, Germany
“5=1,” L.A. Artcore Gallery – Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.