October 27, 2026 11:24am

Ursula von Rydingsvard. Photo Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images

Ursula von Rydingsvard, a sculptor who responded to the austerity of Minimalism with monumental cedar sculptures that had a distinctly human touch, died in New York on Tuesday following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 84, according to the New York Times .

“Despite enormous obstacles, Ursula had an inimitable drive to create and to wrest nearly unimaginable images into a monumental scale,” said Mary Sabbatino, vice president and partner of von Rydingsvard’s representative, Galerie Lelong, said in a statement. “Her sculptures stand as sentinels to inspire new generations-especially women sculptors-to dream new possibilities. She also had an astonishing gift for friendship and leaves a legacy as teacher and mentor to her fellow artists.…