
Room 12 in Artist and Society
Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
13 rooms in Artist and Society
Sharing a living and working studio for over thirty years, the artistic dialogue of these two artists produced extraordinary bodies of politically-engaged art
Leon Golub (1922–2004) and Nancy Spero (1926–2009) each made art exploring the dark sides of human relationships, especially political power, violence, and oppression. They met in 1949 while at art school in Chicago, married, and lived in Europe for several years before settling in New York City in 1964. Their loft studio in the city became a site for working – often late through the night – and a community hub, where artists met for political discussion and activism.
Golub produced monumental paintings on unstretched canvases. They usually depict soldiers, vigilantes, and scenes of conflict and torture. Later he made darkly humorous works on paper about sex, desire and death. Spero abandoned painting in the 1960s and became known for paper scrolls covered with cut-out female figures displaying narratives of women’s history. Her work often includes fragments of poetry, literature and philosophy, addressing women’s subjugation and resistance.
Both artists used images of monsters and mythology as emblems of human urges and tensions in society. Works in this room feature wild dogs, goddesses and other allegorical figures. All of the works and materials on view are from the collection of Jon Bird, a London-based artist, writer and curator who worked closely with both artists since the 1980s, producing exhibitions and books. The items on view offer a personal glimpse into each of the artist’s practices and their personalities. They are a testament to the relationships that support artists’ creativity and political engagement.
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Leon Golub, General Ernesto Geisel (1976) 1977
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Victims, Crawling Woman 1990
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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associated with Nancy Spero, associated with Leon Golub, Leon Golub and Nancy Spero: War and Memory, American Center, Paris 1994
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Zinc plate: Artemis with Arrow Date not known
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, General Ernesto Geisel (1976) 1977
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, General Ernesto Geisel (1961) 1977
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, General Ernesto Geisel (1976) 1977
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, General Ernesto Geisel (1976) 1977
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Crematorium Chimney, Heads, Swastikas 1967
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Codex Artaud XV 1971–1972
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, All Bets Off 1994
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, Napalm Shield 1 1970–1971
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, The Ballad of Marie Sanders 1991
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Artaud Painting: ‘Poète aigri, la vie bout et la ville brûle’ 1970
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Sheela-na-gig/Artemis: Totem 1 1985
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, Napalm Head 1969–1970
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, This Could Be You 2001
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, We Can Disappear You (2) 2001
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, Satyr Lib! 2004
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Leon Golub, Contemplating Pre-Columbian 2000–2004
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, Dogged II 2000–2004
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, Proud 1999
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Masha Bruskina 1992
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Leda 1991
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Sky Goddess 1999
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Allegory 1997
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, Winged Sphinx 1972
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Leon Golub, Interrogation 1992
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Nancy Spero’s Alphabet of Hieroglyphs 2008
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
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Nancy Spero, Rubber plate: Egyptian figure with lyre Date not known
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artworks in Leon Golub and Nancy Spero
Art in this room
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