Harold Tovish

Harold Tovish (July 31, 1921 – January 4, 2008) was an American sculptor who worked in bronze, wood, and synthetic media. He was famous for exacting standards, and even refused to complete many of the sculptures he began. Tovish focused on the human form as the primary vehicle for exploring metaphysical existence.

Life Tovish was born in New York City to a Russian refugee father. His father died during the Great Depression and his destitute mother placed his older sisters in foster care and sent young Tovish to the Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York. At Columbia, he also met Marianna Pineda. He earned his degree in 1943.

Tovish was artist-in-residence at the American Academy in Rome in 1965.

According to his daughter, Nina, Tovish "held himself to an extremely high standard and was ruthless about it" and as a consequence "he didn't leave behind a great body of work. He threw out 99 percent of everything he made."

Collections The Museum of Modern Art The Art Institute of Chicago Walker Art Center