Helen Beling, Biography and Art

Born and raised in New York City, Helen Beling was a prolific sculptor on the art scene who studied at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League of New York. 

Her works appeared in numerous locations both in and outside New York, including the New Rochelle Art Association, the Bridge Gallery, the Krasner Gallery, the Sabena Airlines Exhibit in Brussels, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. She was also chosen to exhibit in the 1955 Whitney Museum annual exhibit of contemporary artists.

Helen was also a teacher, working out of her studio at the Westchester County Center and the College of New Rochelle. In 1978, she traveled to Malaysia to lecture where some of her art was also featured. 

“Listen to your teachers. They’ve got a lot to give. Learn from them. Question, understand, search. Fight back! Only you must make your own decisions.”

What makes Beling stand out amongst other sculptors is her nonobjective styles, having sculpted in woods, clay, bronze, steel, and fiberglass.

The fiberglass was an amalgam, combining reinforced resin and bronze powder. She named this creation “Belpast”. With this new material, she was able to create large bronze sculptures that were very lightweight.

Unlike other artists, Beling was not gifted with a large studio full of assistants. Her creation was not only groundbreaking but also highly necessary for her to continue her work.

She also received numerous awards during her time as a sculptor, including the National Association of Women Artists Medal of Honor. 

Upon her death in 2001, much of her work, sadly, went into storage and was seemingly lost in time to art collectors around the world. It wasn’t until 12 years later in 2013 when her name and works experienced a resurgence thanks to the Gallery at Gray’s.

The gallery continues to work closely with the Beling family to help reintroduce her works to the modern-day art collector.

At our auction this month, there are a number of Helen Beling lots available.

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