GROSS, Jennifer R. (ed)
Mina Loy. Strangeness is inevitable

Mina Loy (1882–1966) was one of the most iconoclastic figures in modernism. A groundbreaking poet, she also left an indelible mark in painting, drawing, prose, art criticism, and fashion. Mina Loy: Strangeness Is Inevitable is the first book to examine the full scope of her extraordinary career, demonstrating Loy’s transformative impact on the visual arts as well as the literary avant-garde of the twentieth century.

Presenting dozens of Loy’s paintings, drawings, and constructions alongside selections of her poems and writings, this book gives a comprehensive overview of the complex images and objects Loy created and situates them in the larger context of her life and work. It explores Loy’s pursuit of truth and beauty, arguing that her engagement with the emphatically “unbeautiful” materials of the Bowery—such as rags and bottle caps—reflects her questioning of truth. The book positions Loy within the broader context of surrealist art; sheds light on her relationships with influential figures such as Gertrude Stein, Marcel Duchamp, and Wyndham Lewis; and addresses Loy’s enduring relevance today. [publisher's note]

Published by Princeton University Press, 2024
Monographs