Lillian Florsheim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lillian Florsheim
Born	May 17, 1896  New Orleans
Died	December 28, 1988  (aged 92) Chicago
Occupation	Sculptor

Lillian Florsheim (born May 17, 1896 – died December 28, 1988) was a talented sculptor. Her amazing artworks were shown in famous places like the Art Institute of Chicago. Her sculptures were also displayed in museums in Washington D.C. and New Orleans, LA.

Early Life and Education

Lillian Hyman was born on May 17, 1896, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her parents were Clara Newman and Harris Hyman. Lillian was one of four children. She had two sisters, Nettie and Claire, and a brother, Harris Hyman, Jr.

She went to Smith College in Massachusetts. She finished her studies and graduated in 1916. In 1918, Lillian Hyman married Irving Florsheim. He was a navy officer. Irving was also an heir to the Florsheim Shoe Company.

The Florsheims had two children. Their daughter Nancy married artist Bertrand Goldberg. Their other daughter, Mary, married actor Allan Jones.

Her Art Career

Lillian Florsheim started her art career in the late 1940s. This was around the time she divorced Irving Florsheim. She began by taking painting classes. Her teachers were Rudolph Weisenborn and George Buehle.

Later, she saw the work of Max Bill at the Art Institute of Chicago. This made her very interested in abstract art. In 1951, she took classes at the Institute of Design. There, she became very interested in making three-dimensional art.

Sculptures and Materials

Between the 1950s and 1980s, Florsheim created over 200 sculptures. She used many different materials and methods. In the 1950s, she made abstract figures. She also created models using string. She even made useful objects from Plexiglas.

By the mid-1960s, her sculptures became more abstract. They were complex studies of shapes and forms. In the 1970s, her art changed again. She started making strong geometric shapes. These were built using rods and flat pieces. Her artworks also became much larger.

In 1970, Florsheim had a big art show. It was at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. After this, she took a three-year break from art. When she returned, she focused on creating smaller, more personal pieces.

Her Personal Life

In 1946, Lillian Florsheim bought a home in Chicago. It was in the Gold Coast area. The architect Andrew Rebori designed this house in 1938. It was originally built for Rebori himself.

Lillian's daughter Nancy married artist Bertrand Goldberg. He helped renovate Lillian's home. He designed a special studio space for her art. He also designed a unique kitchen. This kitchen connected the main house to a smaller coach house. The kitchen was even featured in magazines. It had a modern design with black, white, and stainless steel.

Lillian stayed very close to Nancy and Bertrand. They moved close to her home in 1955. After Lillian passed away, they took over her home.

Art Collection

In the 1940s, Florsheim also started collecting art. She especially loved abstract art. She knew many of the artists whose work she collected. Her collection included pieces from famous artists. Some of these were Georges Vantongerloo, Barbara Hepworth, Naum Gabo, Jean Arp, Isamu Noguchi, and Victor Vasarely.

Death and Legacy

Lillian Florsheim passed away on December 28, 1988. She was 92 years old and died in Chicago, Illinois.

Between 1965 and 1985, Florsheim had more than 15 solo art shows. These shows took place all over the world. She had exhibitions in Chicago, Germany, Israel, France, and New Orleans.

Lillian Florsheim's artwork is kept in many important collections. These include both public museums and private collections. Some of the places where her work can be seen are:

• Art Institute of Chicago
• Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C.
• Smithsonian Museum, Washington D.C.
• Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen, Germany
• Longue Vue, New Orleans, LA