Of Divers Arts

Constructivist and sculptor Naum Gabo’s personal account of his development as an artist

A leading exponent of the modern art movement known as Constructivism, Russian-born Naum Gabo was one of the most important sculptors of the twentieth century—an artist, designer, and theorist whose work changed the course of modern art. Of Divers Arts is Gabo’s beautifully written personal account of his development and growing into consciousness as an artist and his constant search for new techniques of communication. Throughout, he reflects on the relationship between art and science and reveals the many important influences on his work, especially the natural world, Russian religious and folk art, and the work of the artist Mikhail Vrubel. The result is a remarkable autobiographical account of a major modern artist.

“[Gabo] has devoted himself to the realization of a totally new conception of art, and in an age of experiment it is distinguished by the passion, the consistency, and the clarity of vision that have constantly inspired the artist.”—Herbert Read