The University of Iowa

Totem

Totem, Catlett
Medium
Black Marble
Status
Active
Date
2008
Description

Totem is one of Elizabeth Catlett's later sculptures, and embodies her best work. The piece features sculptures of stacked faces which reflect the influence of African art. She melds these faces into a seamless whole, navigating a line between abstraction and realism, cubism and bio-morphism. Her exquisite handling of the marble conveys the beauty that she sees in her subject matter.