This book is clearly a labor of love and in fact Michael Brenson says it was a 20 year journey in his quest to bring abstract expressionism back into our consciousness. This book is meticulously researched and he had access to many of David Smith's friends, family and fellow artists in order to create a well-rounded portrait of the man and artist. In some ways, I think of David Smith as a renaissance man - incredibly gifted artistically in multiple mediums as well as a very complex person with difficult relationships. This may be a labor of love, but Brenson does not shy away from showing his strengths and flaws. We hear about his rivalries/friendships with other famous artists and his multiple marriages. There are many photographs of his work through out the book, but to really experience Smith's work it is important to see it in person. Bolton Landing where he lived and worked intermittently, is unfortunately not as intact as when he died -- one of his executors of his estate - art critic, Clement Greenberg, was accused of defacing some of Smith's sculptures (peeling off paint) and selling off this work and studio in parts leaving little for us to be able to experience the extraordinary setting of his sculptures in the fields that so inspired him. But for now, we have this definitive biography of David Smith.

I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and FSG for the ebook. This is the first major biography about one of America’s greatest sculptors. With a rich selection of photographs, this book begins with his early Midwest upbringing, his artistic beginnings in New York and then his move upstate where most of his major works were created. Smith is a brilliant practitioner and great advocate of the exciting American art scene as it finally leads an art movement, instead of imitating European artists. As equally fascinating is the marriages that Smith has and also the artists that were his great friends and, at times, great rivals. This is a magical time in American creativity brought to wonderful life.