HELEN "LENI" STERN Washington Color School, 1930-2019 UNTITLED, 1971. MID-CENTURY MODERN SCULPTURE Colorless plexiglass Signed on base and dated 1971. Oval plinth base. 77 1/2 in. (196.9 cm.), Base: 60 x 37 1/2 in. (152.4 x 95.3 cm.) $3,000-4,000
ARTIST PROFILE: Helen “Leni” Stern (1930–2019) was a transformative figure in the Washington, D.C., art scene, recognized for her dual legacy as a dedicated sculptor and a visionary patron. After moving to the District in 1957, she cofounded the Washington Gallery of Modern Art in 1962, where she championed then-emerging icons like Frank Stella and Jasper Johns, and played a pivotal role in bringing national acclaim to the Washington Color School. Despite her significant contributions as a board chair, art collector, and pioneer of local art rentals, Stern often worked behind the scenes, earning high praise from critics as a peerless advocate for contemporary creators before her passing at age 89.
