History & Practice: Bauhaus Biography - Josef Albers

Josef Albers was born in Bottrop, Germany in 1888, was employed as a teacher from 1908 to 1913, then later moved to Berlin and specialised as an art teacher from 1913 to 1915, he then moved to Essen to work as a printmaker in 1916 until 1919. In 1919, Albers moved to Munich to study at the Academy of Fine Arts.

Albers began his study at the Bauhaus in 1920, studying under Johannes Itten in a foundation course.
In 1922 Albers was asked to join the Bauhaus' faculty, and become a master. Albers accepted and decided to focus on stained glass as his preferred medium. In 1923 Albers was asked by Walter Gropius (Founder, and current Master of the Bauhaus school) to teach the preliminary course regarding craftwork due to his relevant background in making.

Josef Albers Portrait, 1944 (Age 56)

In 1925, the Bauhaus moved from Weimar to Dessau and Albers became a professor. Albers' work turned towards furniture design and glassworks. Albers taught as the master of crafts.
As the Bauhaus closed in 1933 due to political tension, its students and faculty went their separate ways.

Albers emigrated to America and became a painting teacher at Black Mountain College, NC from 1933 until 1949.
Albers left Black Mountain College and joined Yale University's faculty as their head of design in 1950 until he retired from teaching in 1958.

In 1963 Albers released Interaction of Color, his book describing his perception on colour theory.
In 1973 Albers received membership to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He died in 1976 in the city of New Haven, CT.

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