Isamu Noguchi’s Modernism

"[ Negotiating Race and Nation ] breaks new ground in our understanding of Noguchi's constructed identity and career. [Lyford's] account is lively, vivid, and engaging. [Her] scholarship and analysis are impressive in their breadth and depth. Presenting new material as well as contributing to our understanding of familiar material, it addresses a broad audience of scholars and students in the fields of modern art history, Asian-American studies, race and ethnicity, Orientalism, and identity construction." --Joseph Henning, author of Outposts of Civilization: Race, Religion and the Formative Years of American-Japanese Relations "While there is general consensus that Noguchi is a pivotal figure in twentieth century America, when it comes to an analysis of his artistic significance, his biography has often played an overriding role in explaining the meaning of his art and his importance as a sculptor. Lyford accurately assesses this conundrum and locates this problem in matters of "race and nation." Her work is well-conceived and organized, and written with precision and elegance. It illuminates aspects of twentieth century American artistic modernism in a nuanced and convincing fashion." --Karin Higa, Japanese American National Museum