Nevelson is known for her abstract expressionist “crates” grouped together to form a new creation. She used found objects or everyday discarded things in her “assemblages” or assemblies, one of which was three stories high: "When you put together things that other people have thrown out, you’re really bringing them to life — a spiritual life that surpasses the life for which they were originally created."

Nevelson studied at the Art Students League in New York City during 1929-30. She later studied with Hans Hofmann in Munich, and worked as an assistant to Diego Rivera. As a part of the Works Progress Administration, Nevelson taught art at the Educational Alliance art school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. At the Educational Alliance art school Nevelson studied sculpture with Chaim Gross. At the Art Students League Nevelson studied life drawing and painting with George Grosz.

The Louise Nevelson Estate is represented by The Pace Gallery, New York.

Some work done by Nevelson memorialized the Holocaust. Nevelson often worked in shallow-relief, often monochromatically. Nevelson's work is not easily allied with any one movement, though it has been variously linked to Cubism, Dada, Surrealism, Abstract expressionism, Minimalism, feminism, and installation art.

While executing sculptures in wood throughout her career, Nevelson also worked in lucite, aluminum, and magnesium. Nevelson also worked in cast paper. During the early 1980s Nevelson employed Cor-ten steel as sculptural material.

Louise was born in Kiev, Czarist Russia and grew up in Rockland, Maine, spending most of her adolescent years there. There is a street named for her there. After graduating from high school in 1918, she married Charles Nevelson, a business man. Together they had a son, Myron. Louise and Charles separated in 1931. She died in New York City, New York in 1988.

Mercedes Ruehl played Nevelson in Edward Albee's play "Occupant" at the Signature Theater in New York in summer 2008.

Image:'Sky Cathedral', painted wood by Louise Nevelson, 1982, Smithsonian American Art Museum.jpg|Sky Cathedral, painted wood, 1982, Smithsonian American Art Museumfile:'Night Leaf', plexiglas sculpture by Louise Nevelson 1969, Smithsonian American Art Museum.jpg|'Night Leaf', plexiglas sculpture by Louise Nevelson 1969, Smithsonian American Art Museum