Nancy Graves (b. 1939, Massachusetts; d. 1995, New York) was an American artist whose multifaceted approach to art making defied traditional boundaries. Renowned for her relentless experimentation, Graves seamlessly blended sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking,

​

Graves studied at several prestigious institutions, including Vassar College, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, and Yale University, where she earned her MFA in 1964. It was during her time at Yale that Graves began to forge her distinctive artistic identity, drawing inspiration from her extensive travels. She gained initial recognition in the 1960s for her Camel series, a collection of sculptures that skillfully combined abstraction with the representation of everyday objects. These sculptures, which featured the anatomical forms of camels rendered in unconventional materials like burlap and plaster, showcased her interest in merging the tactile with the conceptual. The series marked her as a trailblazer who challenged the dominant minimalistic and conceptual art movements of the time.

​

Throughout her career, Graves displayed an insatiable curiosity that led her to explore diverse mediums and techniques. Her work often fused elements of geology, anthropology, and natural history, resulting in pieces that resonated with a sense of discovery and inquiry. Her artistic pursuits extended to painting, where she seamlessly transitioned between abstraction and representation, creating vivid and dynamic compositions that resonated with an underlying sense of rhythm and movement.

 

Graves received numerous accolades during her lifetime, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a National Endowment for the Arts Grant. Her work can be found in institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Tate Modern.

​