Clay Spohn

Clay Spohn was born in San Francisco, California, on November 24, 1898. Active in San Francisco, Clay Spohn was an exponent of modern art and experimented with Surrealism, Dadaism and Abstract Expressionism. He did Works Progress Administration murals in the 1930s and also became a painter, lithographer and illustrator. From 1945–50, Spohn taught at the California School of Fine Arts and from 1952–58, lived in Taos, New Mexico. He then went to New York and from 1964–69 taught at the New York School of Visual Arts. A close friend of Alexander Calder, Spohn was the one who suggested to Calder that he incorporate movement into his sculpture. Spohn remained in New York until his death on December 19, 1977.