Helen Gilbert facts for kids
Helen Gilbert (1922 – 2002) was a talented American artist and art teacher. She was also known as Helen Gilbert-Bushnell. Helen was born in Mare Island, California. She studied art at Mills College in California.
After college, she moved to Honolulu, Hawaii. There, she married Fred Gilbert. Later, she earned a special art degree (MFA) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1968. She then taught art there for 30 years. Helen Gilbert passed away in 2002.
Art That Moves: Kinetic Sculpture
Helen Gilbert was famous for her unique art. She painted pictures of Hawaii's land and people. But she was best known for her special moving art. This type of art is called kinetic sculpture.
Her kinetic sculptures used something called polarized light. This made her art truly stand out.
Licomos: A Moving Masterpiece
One of Helen Gilbert's most famous works is Licomos. It is a kinetic sculpture made in 1970. This artwork is now at the Honolulu Museum of Art.
In Licomos, colors change as parts of the sculpture move in a circle. These moving parts are behind clear plastic sheets called Plexiglass. The light changes, making the colors shift and dance.
Where to See Helen Gilbert's Art
Many famous museums around the world have Helen Gilbert's art. This shows how important her work was.
You can find her art in places like:
- The Bibliothèque nationale de France (France)
- The British Museum (London, UK)
- The Honolulu Museum of Art (Hawaii, USA)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA)
- The Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA)
- The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York, USA)
- The Tate Gallery (London, UK)
- The Tokyo National Museum (Japan)
- The Whitney Museum of American Art (New York, USA)
These museums show that Helen Gilbert's art is valued worldwide.
