Brancusi

Explore Constantin Brancusi’s oeuvre through the playful form of a dictionary.

Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957), one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century and a pioneer of modernism, is also referred to as the patriarch of modern sculpture. From A as in Africa to S as in Studio, D as in Dance, F as in Furniture, and R for Reflections, this lavishly illustrated volume takes the open form of a dictionary to present Brancusi’s celebrated art in its full richness. More than 110 entries contributed by leading Brancusi specialists form a complete panorama of his career, from his native Romania to Paris, where he established himself in 1903, and to the United States, where his work was on display for the first time at New York’s legendary 1913 Armory Show.

Published in conjunction with a major exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the book sheds new light on Brancusi’s creative process, his relationship with materials, his use of film, photography, and drawing, and his taste for music. It also addresses the global reception of his work and analyzes the views of it that writers and critics of his time took. Moreover, it explores the significance of Brancusi’s art today, highlighting its resonance with contemporary artists.

Ariane Coulondre is a curator in the Modern Collections Department at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. She is also the curator of Centre Pompidou’s 2024 Brancusi exhibition that will travel to the United States between 2026 and 2028.