early life and education
charmion von wiegand, an american journalist, abstract painter, writer, collector, benefactor, and art critic, was born in 1896 in chicago. she grew up in arizona and california, attending a public school in san francisco, where she first became interested in chinese culture during visits to chinatown. von wiegand spent three years in berlin as a teenager before studying at columbia university school of journalism, later transferring to the department of art and archeology.
career and influences
von wiegand's artistic journey began in 1926, during her psychoanalytic therapy, encouraged by her friend and painter
joseph stella. she developed a close circle of friends including
john graham,
carl holty,
hans richter, and
mark tobey, all sharing the belief that art should be made from physical beauty and spirituality. in 1941, she interviewed
piet mondrian, influencing her to start creating abstract art, moving towards neo-plasticism.
abstract art and exhibitions
von wiegand became an associate member of the
american abstract artists in 1941, a full member in 1947, and exhibited with them from 1948. she organized an important show of
kurt schwitter's collages with
naum gabo and
katherine dreiser in 1948.
legacy and impact
von wiegand's legacy as a pioneering american abstract artist continues to inspire, with her work reflecting the intersection of physical beauty, spirituality, and the avant-garde. her influence can be seen in various art movements, including neo-plasticism and abstract art.
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