International Sculpture Center

Unit of Study III.
Isaac Witkin - A Lifetime of Re-Inventing Oneself


Isaac Witkin, The Bathers
1991, cast bronze,
107" x 63" x 36 1/2".
Courtesy of The Sculpture Foundation, Inc., Photo Credit: Jerry L. Thompson.

"…It is clear that the sculptor of Eolith or the Hawthorne Tree series is someone who values highly the time-honored tradition of the sculpture as statue, as self contained volume, yet it is equally obvious that he thinks of a sculpture in wholly modern terms, as the product not of carving and modeling, but of accumulation, of the assembly and articulation of discrete forms."

Karen Wilkin, Author
Isaac Witkin. New York: Hudson Hills Press, Inc., 1998. pp. 92, 96.

Born in South Africa, sculptor Isaac Witkin received his art education at the St. Martin's School in England. Witkin made a name for himself, while still a student, as a member of London's "New Generation." These sculptors were known for their innovative approach to abstract volume, new materials, and bold use of color. Subsequently, Witkin moved to the United States and has continued to experiment with dynamic, new approaches to form and space. Isaac Witkin is a contemporary sculptor who incorporates traditional materials while experimenting with various techniques. His experimentation with directly pouring molten metals yields pieces with a quiet sensuality.

Unit Overview

Students examine, first hand, how and why an artist makes the choices he/she does in order to create a body of work. During this unit of study students examine the development of Isaac Witkin's body of work, experiment with Witkin's direct-pour technique, develop a series of questions based on their research, and subsequently meet with the artist to discuss their findings and to hear his responses to their questions.


Student works on a direct pour sculpture.

Unit of Study III.
Isaac Witkin - A Lifetime of Re-Inventing Oneself
Unit Overview | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3
Critique and Assessment | Extensions


Table of Contents
About the Curriculum | Units of Study | Field Trip Activity | Resources
NJ Resources |
Studying Contemporary Sculpture | Public Relations
Reference Chart for Standards |
Extension Activities | Standards
Forming School Partnerships | Acknowledgements | Meet the Team
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