Rox, Henry

Henry Rox was born in Berlin, Germany on March 18, 1899. He studied art and art history at Oberammergau, the University of Berlin, and Kunstgewerbeschule at Berlin-Charlottenburg. He then pursued intensive sculpture training at the Julian and Colarossi Academies in Paris. Rox gained recognition as a prolific sculptor and his work was displayed in many cities in Europe. He also began experimenting with photosculpture--photographing sculptures of characters designed from fruits and vegetables. He and his wife Lotte left Germany for London in 1933, then settled in the United States in 1938. In 1939 Rox was hired as a lecturer in sculpture at Mount Holyoke College. He was promoted to Assistant Professor of Art in 1948, Professor of Art in 1954, and became Mary Lyon Professor of Art in 1963. During his time at Mount Holyoke, Rox also taught at Holyoke Junior College, Hartford College, and the School of Worcester Art Museum. He became Professor Emeritus upon retirement from Mount Holyoke in 1964. His work in fruit and vegetable photosculpture won repute in magazines, postcards, a Hollywood film, and as illustrations in several children's books. His more traditional sculptures, including "Arise!," "Meditation," "Young Monk," and "Ritual," won international acclaim. Rox died at sixty-eight at home in South Hadley on July 14, 1967.

From the guide to the Rox papers MS 0787., 1935-1968., (Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections)