Sculpture:
* Bronze: Bourgeois frequently worked with bronze, using it to create monumental and often intensely personal sculptures.
* Marble: Her use of marble was more restrained, often seen in smaller, delicate works.
* Wood: She incorporated wood in numerous sculptures, showcasing its natural textures and the potential for carving.
* Steel: Bourgeois' use of steel brought a sense of solidity and structure to her work, particularly in her iconic "Spider" sculptures.
* Fabric: She integrated fabric, often in the form of sewn cloth or tapestry, into her sculptures, highlighting the softness and vulnerability of the human experience.
Drawing:
* Ink: She utilized ink, both black and colored, for her drawings, often depicting intricate and sometimes unsettling imagery.
* Graphite: Graphite allowed her to achieve subtle shades and textures, creating a sense of depth and detail in her drawings.
* Charcoal: The bold strokes of charcoal added a dramatic quality to her drawings, particularly in portraying the human form.
Painting:
* Oil on Canvas: She used oil paints to create large-scale canvases exploring themes of sexuality, trauma, and the body.
* Watercolor: She favored watercolor for its fluidity and ability to capture subtle nuances of color and emotion.
Installations:
* Mixed Media: Bourgeois' installations often incorporated various materials, including found objects, furniture, and personal artifacts.
* Spatial Arrangements: She meticulously arranged her sculptures and other objects in space, creating immersive and often unsettling environments.
Beyond the Materials:
* Autobiographical Content: Much of Bourgeois' work was deeply personal, drawing from her own experiences and memories. She explored themes of family, childhood, sexuality, and loss.
* Symbolism: She used symbolism to convey complex emotions and ideas. Recurring motifs in her work, such as spiders, cells, and the human form, often hold multiple layers of meaning.
* Surrealism: Bourgeois drew heavily from surrealism, using dreamlike imagery and distorted forms to challenge conventional notions of reality.
Louise Bourgeois' diverse approach to art allowed her to explore a vast spectrum of human emotions and experiences. Her willingness to experiment and push boundaries redefined sculpture and installation art, leaving a lasting impact on the art world.