Segal, George

born Nov. 26, 1924, New York, N.Y., U.S.

died June 9, 2000, South Brunswick, N.J.

U.S. sculptor.

Segal began his artistic career as an abstract painter. In 1958 he started creating sculptures from chicken wire and plaster and two years later turned to plaster casts, often using family members and friends as models. Though he was associated with members of the burgeoning Pop art movement in the late 1950s, Segal's sculptures, which were frequently outfitted with the bland commercial props of the Pop idiom, are distinguished from that characteristically ironic movement by a mute, ghostly anguish. His casting technique, in which the live model is wrapped in strips of plaster-soaked cheesecloth, imparts a rough texture and a minimum of surface detail to the figures, thus heightening the sense of anonymity and isolation.

* * *

▪ 2001

      American sculptor (b. Nov. 26, 1924, New York, N.Y.—d. June 11, 2000, South Brunswick, N.J.), was one of the world's most influential and innovative sculptors during the second half of the 20th century. He was best known for his monochromatic, cast plaster figures, which he often situated in environments of mundane furnishings and objects. Educated at Cooper Union, New York, N.Y.; the Pratt Institute of Design, Brooklyn, N.Y.; New York University (B.S., 1950); and Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. (M.F.A., 1963), Segal began his artistic career as an abstract painter. In the late 1950s he was associated with members of the burgeoning Pop art movement. Segal's sculptures, however, cast from living models and outfitted with the bland commercial props of the Pop idiom, were distinguished from that characteristically ironic movement by a mute, ghostly anguish. His casting technique, in which a live model was wrapped in strips of plaster-soaked cheesecloth, imparted a rough texture and a minimum of surface detail to the figures, thus heightening the sense of anonymity and isolation. Among his notable works were The Butcher Shop (1965), The Truck (1966), The Laundromat (1966–67), and Hot Dog Stand (1978). From the late 1970s Segal devoted much of his time to creating large sculptures for public memorials, including three—Depression Breadline, Fireside Chat, and Appalachian Farm Couple 1936—for the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated in 1997. Segal was awarded the National Medal of the Arts in 1999.

* * *

▪ American sculptor

born Nov. 26, 1924, New York, N.Y., U.S.

died June 9, 2000, South Brunswick, N.J.

 American sculptor of monochromatic, cast plaster figures often situated in environments of mundane furnishings and objects.

      Segal was educated at the Cooper Union, Pratt Institute of Design, New York University (B.S., 1950), and Rutgers University (M.F.A., 1963) and began his artistic career as an abstract painter. In 1958 he started creating sculptures from chicken wire and plaster and two years later turned to plaster casts, often using family members and friends as models. Though he was associated with members of the burgeoning Pop art movement in the late 1950s, Segal's sculptures, which were frequently outfitted with the bland commercial props of the Pop idiom, are distinguished from that characteristically ironic movement by a mute, ghostly anguish. His casting technique, in which the live model is wrapped in strips of plaster-soaked cheesecloth, imparts a rough texture and a minimum of surface detail to the figures, thus heightening the sense of anonymity and isolation. Notable works include The Truck (1966), The Laundromat (1966–67), and Hot Dog Stand (1978).

* * *