| H. C. Westermann | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 11, 1922 |
| Died | November 3, 1981 (aged 58) |
| Nationality | American |
| Field | Printmaking, Sculpture |
| Training | School of the Art Institute of Chicago |
| Influenced | Ed Ruscha, Jeff Koons, Bruce Nauman, Ken Price |
H. C. Westermann (Horace Clifford "Cliff" Westermann) (11 December 1922 (Los Angeles, California) – 3 November 1981 (Danbury, Connecticut)) was an American printmaker and sculptor whose art constituted a scathing commentary on militarism and materialism. His sculptures frequently incorporated traditional carpentry and marquetry techniques.
Westermann worked in logging camps as a rail worker in the Pacific Northwest. During World War II he served as a gunner in the U.S. Marine Corps on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, witnessing numerous kamikaze attacks and the sinking of several ships. He toured the Far East as an acrobat with the United Service Organization, and enrolled in The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1947.
In 1950, Westermann re-enlisted in the Marines for service in the Korean War. After his discharge, he returned to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and completed his studies in fine art. The psychological effects of his wartime experiences were an underlying theme in his work.
In 1967, he was one of the celebrities featured on the cover of the Beatles' album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
He was given a retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1978.