Moments of Louise

These are photos and quotes from W magazine on the last year of artist Louise Bourgeois' life. Interspersed are fabric works she made in the 2000s now on show at Hauser & Wirth. I was kind of freaked out to see these because they look so much like what I've been working on lately. Except of course Louise's are about a million times better. The Tracey Emin quote about her is so true.

“Collaborating with Louise was a massive privilege, like holding hands with history. She proved that while most male artists reach their peak when they’re 40, 45—it’s a bit like sex, one big ejaculation—women keep coming. Louise just kept coming and coming and coming, right until the end.” —artist Tracey Emin

“Louise was an incredibly careful listener, and she expected you to listen carefully as well. She would not repeat herself or explain things to you. You either got it or you did not. And if you did not, that was your problem.” —Charlotta Kotik, curator

“About 10 years ago I went to one of the famous Sunday salons at Louise’s house on 20th Street. One artist brought a small sculpture, and Louise questioned its purpose, destroying it completely. By the time it was my turn, I was ready to flee, but she happened to like one of my pieces very much. She said, ‘Yes, that’s right.’ I felt incredibly relieved, as if I had passed the exam of my life.” —artist Guillermo Kuitca

“I once spent time with Louise on her couch, along with a stuffed pink Bourgeois giantess sculpture. Nearby was a red wax animal ear, or maybe a human shoulder blade. I was half apologizing about an obsession with the perfect blue, but Louise said, ‘Of course you must work until you have the right blue.’ I felt professional then and not crazy.” —artist Jenny Holzer

“The first time I had dinner at Louise’s house, the appetizer was a bed of lettuce with pieces of octopus and banana sprinkled on top, followed by ham hocks, and a Klondike bar with alcohol poured over it for dessert. I had expected the conversation to be memorable, but it’s the menu that’s stayed with me to this day.” —Wendy Williams, managing director, Louise Bourgeois studio