Saul Steinberg and the Eameses' Collaborations Resurface

Romanian artist Saul Steinberg and the renowned modernist designers Charles and Ray Eames were a natural creative blend so much so that their encounters resulted in a digital exhibition of works created during and after the time of their friendship. Together with Steinberg’s wife Hedda Sterne, the group collaborated on various works from photographs to reimagined Eames chairs.

After moving to Los Angeles, Steinberg and Sterne began engaging with the Eameses which sparked experimental efforts such as photographs taken at the notable Case Study House No. 8 built in Pacific Palisades. Projecting a few of Steinberg’s drawings of women onto Ray and Hedda, the photographs portrayed a quirky and fun reality. They created movies about drawings and Los Angeles while turning eucalyptus leaves into birds. Steinberg even fabricated a number of fake diplomas for Charles Eames who surprisingly never received his degree in architecture.

The iconic collaboration between the group came about when the artist stepped into the Eames Office in Venice where he was given free rein to draw on walls and furniture. Subsequently, these pieces are still to this day utilized in photoshoots and showroom designs. A fiberglass arm shell was decorated with a drawing of a nude woman as though she was seated with her legs splayed out while another arm shell seats a curled-up cat. A nude painting of a woman lounging in just a necklace and high heels is seen on an early prototype of the La Chaise. While Steinberg and Sterne eventually moved out of the City of Angels, his encounter with the Eames continued to influence his drawings and the group remained in contact with each other throughout their lifetime.

Curated by the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, take a look at the full Exhibit 8: Steinberg Meets the Eameses here.

For more exhibitions, check out these rare photographs by Andy Warhol collated in Voyages avec Warhol.