The Toledo Museum of Art presents Losing Ourselves Together: The Art of Bobby Anspach, a major retrospective of the Toledo-born artist’s work. The exhibition runs through March 2027.
Anspach, who died in 2022, is known for his immersive sculptures. These enclosed environments, titled Place for Continuous Eye Contact, are filled with hand-blown glass, textiles, and chandelier-like domes. Participants wear a patch over one eye and study the reflection of their other eye in a small mirror. A version for two people involves holding a gaze with another person seated opposite.
Three works from this series are in the show, along with a new version adapted for visitors with different physical abilities. The exhibition was curated by the museum’s associate curator of modern and contemporary art, Paige Rozanski, in collaboration with the Bobby Anspach Studios Foundation. It marks the first time Anspach’s work has been shown at a major American museum.
Philosophy and Connection
Anspach’s interest in Buddhism and Eastern philosophy is evident in his work. Rozanski says his meditation practice brought him a sense of peace that he wanted to share. He believed his art could offer a momentary retreat from the physical world.
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He also saw a direct link between human connection and the environment. This concern is shown in paintings like Climate Change and The Beautiful Nothing, both from 2014–2015. Smaller pieces, such as Pom Sculpture Study 1 and Most Beautiful Thing in the World, reveal his more intimate approach to ideas.
Rozanski highlights one quote from Anspach that sums up his worldview. “I have had very deep experiences in this world which have shown me something profound,” he said. “These experiences have shown me that there is a way of relating to this world that, if everyone could see it, we would all live our lives in a very different way.”
The exhibition is held in the museum’s Glass Pavilion. The building, designed by SANAA, features layered, curved transparent walls. The museum describes it as a fitting setting for Anspach’s work, which is concerned with dissolving boundaries.
Rozanski hopes the show will introduce Anspach to a wider audience while celebrating his Toledo roots. “It’s a great honor to present Anspach’s work in his hometown of Toledo,” she says. “And I hope this show will resonate with our local community and bring people together.”
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