A Life Made by Hand - Ruth Asawa

Meet Ruth Asawa, a sculptor whose creative life offers reasons to look at the world differently. In A Life Made by Hand, collage artist Andrea D’Aquino introduces young readers to Asawa’s art, imagination, and commitment to community through vibrant illustrations and accessible storytelling.

The book follows Asawa from her childhood on a California farm to her formative years at Black Mountain College. There, she encountered pioneering artists and thinkers including Anni and Josef Albers, Buckminster Fuller, Merce Cunningham, and Robert Rauschenberg. Her journey opens a window onto the connections between making, learning, and everyday discovery.

Beyond her sculpture, Asawa championed arts education throughout her life and became a beloved figure in the Bay Area art world. A dedicated page of teaching tools gives parents and educators additional context and activities to explore together. It is an inviting introduction to an artist who made creativity part of a larger life.