JOHN CHAMBERLAIN American, 1927-2011

John Chamberlain (1927 in Rochester, Indiana – 2011 in New York) is a major figure of postwar sculpture. He is best known for his works made from crushed automobile parts and industrial metal, a practice he developed from the late 1950s onward. Chamberlain’s sculptures combine form and industrial material, creating dynamic compositions in which color, surface, and space appear compressed and energetically interwoven. His “crushed cars” expanded the definition of sculpture and are closely associated with abstraction and postwar American art. His works are held in major international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Tate Gallery, and the Centre Pompidou.