Ward Bennett

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Ward Bennett
Ward Bennett
Born
Howard Bernstein

(1917-11-17)November 17, 1917
Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York
DiedAugust 13, 2003(2003-08-13) (aged 85)
Key West, Florida
Alma materAcadémie de la Grande Chaumière
Notable work"University Chair"
StyleAmerican
MovementModernism
Parents
  • Murray Bernstein (father)
  • Emelia "Emily" Einsheimer (mother)

Ward Bennett (né Howard Bernstein[1] and also known as Howard E. Bennett,[2] November 17, 1917 – August 13, 2003) was an American designer, artist and sculptor.[3] The New York Times described his work as defining "an era."[4]

Early life and education

Bennett was born as Howard Bernstein[1] on November 17, 1917 in Washington Heights, Manhattan in New York City. His father, Murray Bernstein, aka Murray Bennett, was a vaudeville actor who later became a real-estate insurance broker in 1925[5][6] and later the owner of a restaurant, though he continued to act.[7] His mother was the former Emelia "Emily" Einsheimer.[8] He had an elder brother, Louis Bernstein (aka Erwin Bennett).[5][9] They once lived at 506 Fort Washington Avenue, Apartment 4D, in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in New York City[7][10]

Bennett started working in the

Garment District at age 13. He became a shipping clerk at Chin Chin Crepe. Shortly thereafter he started working for Hattie Carnegie, where he reportedly designed the costumes for Gertrude Lawrence in Lady in the Dark. After visiting Europe he decided to become a designer. He studied at Académie de la Grande Chaumière. He studied under Constantin Brâncuși.[4]

He moved to

East Hampton, is called The Springs.[4][11]

Work

In 1944 his

monochromatic schemes.[4]

Bennett sought to create a design style that was uniquely American, versus the popular European design styles of the 1960s and 70's. His style was called "sensual minimalism" for his blending of industrial design and aesthetic look. He is considered one of the first designers to use industrial design in home design. He had designed over 100 chairs by 1979.[4]

He also created furniture, flatware, dresses, jewelry and homes.

Chase, David Rockefeller, Gianni Agnelli, Tiffany & Co., and Jann Wenner.[4][12] In the 1970s he was resident designer at Brickel Associates
.

He designed the "University Chair" for Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. As of 1979 he had designed over 100 different chairs. He had a strong interest in chair design because he had back problems of his own.[4]

Death and legacy

Bennett died at his home in

Key West, Florida on August 13, 2003.[4]

Works by Bennett reside in the collections of the

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art.[13][14][15] An oral history with Bennett is held by the Archives of American Art.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b Metropolis, 2004, Volume 32, page 132
  2. ^ "IN RE: Howard E. Bennett (2011)". FindLaw. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  3. ISBN 978-2-88046-816-3
    . Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Iovine, Julie V. (16 August 2003). "Ward Bennett, 85, Dies; Designed With American Style". Arts. The New York Times. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  5. ^ a b U.S. Federal Census 1930
  6. ^ "Dinner to Murray Bennett", The New York Times, 30 July 1925, page 22, column 4
  7. ^ a b U.S. Federal Census 1940
  8. ^ The Bennett-Emsheimer engagement was announced in"Engaged", The New York Times, 29 September 1913, page 9, column 5
  9. ^ Erwin Bennett's engagement to Frances Friedman was announced in "Engagements", The New York Times, 24 February 1935, page 28, column 3
  10. ^ U.S. Federal Census 1920
  11. ^ Welcome to Jonas Gustavfsson Photography Retrieved 2014-09-23.
  12. ISBN 978-0-87070-740-7
    . Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Ward Bennett – Collection of Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt". National Design Museum. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Brooklyn Museum: Decorative Arts: Vase". Brooklyn Museum. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Ward Bennett. (American, 1917–2003)". MoMA. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  16. ^ "Oral history interview with Ward Bennett, 1973 Feb. 13 - Oral Histories, Archives of American Art". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 25 October 2012.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ward_Bennett&oldid=1194954117"