San Francisco's Ruth Asawa (1979)

As an artist, Ruth Asawa forged a groundbreaking practice through her ceaseless exploration of materials and forms. But when Asawa was asked to name her life’s most important work, she replied, “the schools.” Learn more about how the San Francisco Fountain at the Grand Hyatt Hotel was created, Asawa’s work with students, and her philosophy of civic engagement in this excerpt from Victor Rosenberg’s film San Francisco’s Ruth Asawa (1979).

Artwork © 2025 Ruth Asawa Lanier, Inc., Courtesy David Zwirner