Barbara Lekberg facts for kids

Barbara Ann Lekberg (born Barbara Ann Hult; March 19, 1925 – February 14, 2018) was an American sculptor. A sculptor is an artist who creates three-dimensional artworks, often by carving, molding, or welding materials. Barbara Lekberg was known for her large metal sculptures.

Early Life and Education

Barbara Ann Hult was born on March 19, 1925, in Portland, Oregon. Her mother, Mildred Anderson, was a music teacher. Her father, Melvin Hult, worked in the family's lumber business.

Barbara Lekberg went to the University of Iowa. There, she studied sculpture with famous artists like Humbert Albrizio, Philip Guston, and Mauricio Lasansky. She earned her first degree in sculpture in 1946. The next year, in 1947, she received another degree in art history.

In the late 1940s, Barbara moved to New York City. She continued her art studies at The Clay Club, which is now called the SculptureCenter. At this school, she learned from Sahl Swarz how to weld steel. Welding is a way to join metal pieces together using heat, which is important for creating metal sculptures.

Art Career

Barbara Lekberg had her very first art show all by herself in 1959. This show took place at the SculptureCenter, where she had studied. She became known for making big sculptures of people or figures out of metal. Often, these sculptures looked like they had fabric draped over them.

From 1981 to 2001, Barbara Lekberg taught art classes. She was a professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She helped many young artists learn about sculpture during her time there.

Barbara Lekberg was also a member of the National Academy of Design. This is a special group of artists and architects in the United States. She received a very important award called the Guggenheim Fellowship two times. She won this award for her excellent work in fine arts in both 1957 and 1959. This fellowship helps artists get money to continue their creative projects.

Personal Life

In 1956, Barbara Lekberg married Victor Tamerlis. He was a dealer who bought and sold rare books. They lived together in Greenwich Village, a famous neighborhood in New York City.

Barbara and Victor had a daughter in 1962, named Zoe Tamerlis Lund. A short film called Zoe Rising was made in 2014. This film told the story of their daughter's life through Barbara Lekberg's memories.

Barbara Lekberg passed away on February 14, 2018. She was in a nursing home in the Bronx, New York. She had been struggling with Alzheimer's disease, which is a type of illness that affects memory.