Re-Framing Anni Albers and Bauhaus

Abstract

At this time when interdisciplinary education in higher education is in trend, the Bauhaus is in its prime again as it celebrates 100th anniversary. Anni Albers, a seminal figure in textiles, art education and modern art in America, was one of the few artists who were present in both of the experimental art colleges of the century- Bauhaus in Germany and Black Mountain College in the United States. Many versions of her story exist to date, however this article focuses on the version of her own story, which has not been highlighted either in media or academia. It has been widely accepted that 1) gender inequality existed in Bauhaus, 2) the shift of Albers’ medium derived from wanting recognition from the art world, and 3) a structured curriculum educated many of the artists graduated from Bauhaus. However, in this study, two oral interviews of Anni Albers, seventeen years apart, were compared with public perception, which has dominated understanding of the artist and Bauhaus for centuries. The interviews change our perspective, particularly on gender equity, craft, fine art, and curriculum at Bauhaus in the life of Anni Albers.