Ruth Asawa’s work is evident this year. The first retrospective since the artist died in 2013. She was 87 years old. It is now on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It will travel to the MoMA in October. From there, it heads to the Guggenheim Bilbao in Spain. Then it moves to the Beyeler Foundation, just outside Basel, Switzerland. Once known only to ‘erudite’ collectors, the pioneering sculptor suddenly became blue-chip a few years ago.
Connoisseurship around Asawa’s prized wire works focuses on the number of “lobes.” These are the beguiling, translucent bulges she formed. Experts also look at the presence of intricate forms within these lobes. The most in-demand works are her long and vertical “form within form” sculptures.
In 2010, an early, multi-lobed work set a new auction record for the artist, selling for $98,500. Today, that same sculpture would be valued at around $7 million.
In 2019, White Young was pleasantly surprised to see Untitled (S.387, Hanging Three Separate Layers of Three-Lobed Forms), circa 1955, sell for a final price of $4.1 million, surpassing its high estimate of $900,000.
Jennifer Quan’s similar, yet smaller, woven wire structures were revealed at the Creative Class exhibition. They are listed at starting prices of $400-$500 each.
Jennifer Quan is Fairweather’s emerging artist for 2025. She shared information during the recent opening reception of Creative Class. Ruth Asawa was her great aunt.
Demand for Asawa’s work has been surging lately. Will these appearances at the watershed museum further boost its popularity? In the Bay Area, she spent most of her life working. She is already well known to collectors there. Rachael White Young, a senior specialist at Christie’s, made this statement. Nonetheless, she added, “I think that the New York leg of the show is going to make a bigger splash.” I believe it will stand out significantly. It will shine even brighter internationally.
NW emerging artist Jennifer Quan passionately crafts enchanting sculptures from hand-knit wire, beautifully intertwining extra materials like woven copper. Her mesmerizing creations explore the profound resilience of seeds while also celebrating the exquisite beauty of pods. Inspired by the natural landscape, she draws from its rich narratives. Her artistic vision blooms into a captivating dialogue with nature. Her great aunt was Ruth Asawa.
Thank you to the talented Fairweather resident artist, Paul Brent. He shared the insightful article about Ruth Asawa. It was published on August 28, 2025, in ArtNet. Your dedication to honoring her legacy and her connection to emerging artist Jennifer Quan truly resonates.
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First shoutout for the upcoming Seaside First Saturday Art Walk on September 6th.
Fairweather House and Gallery
612 Broadway Street
Opening reception for “Grounding Influence,” featuring work rooted in personal narratives. Artists Bill Baily, Vicki Baker, Paul Brent, Lieta Gratteri, Michael Muldoon, and Vanessa K. Stokes offer authenticity by anchoring original art in lived experiences or tangible reality—music by singer/ acoustic guitarist Jason Lambert. Seaside Painting LIVE ™ demonstration by Paul Brent
