Label Text
Ellsworth Kelly initially emerged as a leader of the Hard Edge group of Color Field painting in the 1960s with his large, bright, ovoid shapes that contrasted with sharp, rectangular color-plane backgrounds on his canvases. Kelly moved to shaped canvases, which naturally led to freestanding sculptures. His sculptures present the same geometric shapes as his paintings, although created on an environmental scale and constructed of industrial materials like Cor-ten steel.
Untitled is an elegant obelisk that is surprising to walk around and view its relationship to the park. When viewed straight on, the form is sturdy and full, with an assertive shape. Moving around the sculpture, it takes on a more fragile appearance, almost completely disappearing into itself. The situation of this piece in the center of the park is well considered, encouraging viewers to actively notice the environment of the park and its urban context.
Published References"John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park", Lea Rosson DeLong, ed., Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, 1923, pp. 88-91, detailo p.9
Published References"John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park", Lea Rosson DeLong, ed., Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, 1923, pp. 88-91, detailo p.9
DimensionsOverall: 240 × 22 × 2 in., 3000 lb. (609.6 × 55.9 × 5.1 cm, 1360.8 kg.)
Accession Number 2015.15
Classificationssculpture
InscriptionsE. KELLY 847
ProvenanceArtist. Donald Bryant [by 2009]; (Matthew Marks Gallery); John and Mary Pappajohn [purchased from previous, 2009]; Des Moines Art Center [gift from previous, 2015]