About The Collection

Gifted to the Museum by Bernard A. Zuckerman in 1999 to commemorate his late wife, this collection surveys 40 years of Ruth Zuckerman's work from 1953 to 1993. Objects include significant sculptures in stone and bronze, photography, paintings, plaster maquettes, and the artist鈥檚 personal archives.

are held by the KSU Archives. For more information about the Ruth V. Zuckerman Papers collection, please contact Helen Thomas, Outreach Archivist, at (470) 578-6535.

Ruth V. Zuckerman is best known for her fluid, figurative sculptures, based on universal themes of family, love, and protection. Insieme III, considered the artist鈥檚 masterwork, is currently on view in the Ruth V. Zuckerman Pavilion at the Zuckerman Museum of Art. The sculpture is part the Museum's inaugural exhibition, From Earth and Fire. The show includes several more of her works in stone, as well as some of her bronze pieces from the KSU permanent collection.

A special commemorative catalogue on this collection is available for purchase at the Museum's reception desk for $10. Please email zma@kennesaw.edu for details.

bernard zuckerman painting
Shane McDonald, Bernard Zuckerman, 2013, Oil on canvas, 肉肉传媒 College of the Arts Commission. 2016.28.1 漏 Shane McDonald. Ruth Zuckerman, Self Portrait, 1959, Composite stone and plaster on base, Gift of Bernard Zuckerman. 1999.5.47 漏 Estate of Bernard A. Zuckerman. Ruth Zuckerman, Breakthrough, c. 1960, Green steatite, Gift of Bernard Zuckerman. 1999.5.11 漏 Estate of Bernard A. Zuckerman.
a natural progression for a golden delicious
Ruth Zuckerman: A Natural Progression for a Golden Delicious 1974. Bronze on black Belgian marble base | 5 x 14 x 8 in. (12.7 x 35.6 x 20.3 cm). Gift of Bernard Zuckerman, 1999.5.3. 漏 Estate of Bernard A. Zuckerman

From the Notes of Ruth Zuckerman:

Here, an artisan is firing my apples. The application of the patina is done with a blowtorch, acids, and water. Maroon patina was used for the bite marks, which appear darker in color. Later I changed the marble base to a lighter marble for more contrast. Here, a section of the bronze has been heated with the torch, and the first coat of patina has been applied. The process of heating, applying color, and sluicing off the acids will be repeated until the desired patina is achieved.

Different chemicals and minerals create different colors. The method of application is the same. After the color is achieved, it will receive a coat of wax to seal the color and protect it.

This was another version, which was very highly buffed and polished. Patina is applied only to the bite marks. It was filed, sanded, polished, and buffed, a most labor-intensive process.

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