1922—1981. Westermann was one of the most influential, yet under recognized, figures in postwar American art. Born in Los Angeles, Westermann began crafting imaginative objects from scavenged materials at an early age. He pursued such diverse activities as acrobatics, woodcutting, and masonry before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1942 and again in 1950. While on active duty during World War II and the Korean War, Westermann witnessed kamikaze attacks, the sinking of ships, and other atrocities that would resurface years later as thematic elements in his art. Between tours of duty and after his discharge, Westermann studied graphic and applied arts at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. There he began a very productive art career and enjoyed commercial and critical success until his death in 1981. Although he remained highly individualistic and somewhat unconcerned with the mainstreams of American art, the Pop Art movement often embraced him as one of its most quixotic and eccentric members.

Often characterized as an American original, Westermann earned the respect and admiration of peers through his innovative art and the tough, no-nonsense persona he created for himself. His indefatigable work ethic and love of fine craftsmanship lead Westermann to invent an entirely new genre of sculpture that combined the surrealist practice of assemblage, traditional sculpting methods, and the elements of design with carpentry and woodworking techniques and materials. Although perhaps more widely known for his sculptural work, Westermann’s accomplishments as a printmaker are the stuff of legends among devotees. His often colorful, always intriguing images continue to pique the viewer’s curiosity with their intensely personal, political, humorous, and provocative themes.