– Carl Andre sculpture
– Minimalist pioneer Carl Andre.
Carl Andre, a renowned sculptor and poet known for his floorbound arrangements of granite, metal, timber, and brick, has died at the age of 88. He passed away on January 24 at a hospice facility in Manhattan, according to a spokesperson for the Paula Cooper Gallery, which represented him. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Over the course of his nearly seven-decade career, Carl Andre created more than 2,000 sculptures and an equal number of experimental poems. His work was characterized by its cool and serene aesthetic, using ready-made materials arranged in simple geometric forms. His minimalist approach to sculpture played a significant role in the reaction against abstract expressionism and the broader field of 20th-century sculpture.
While Carl Andre initially made monumental constructions and elevated wood carvings, he gained recognition in the mid-1960s with his horizontal works. He often referred to his ideal piece of sculpture as a road. One of his most notable works, “Lever,” consisted of a single row of firebricks lined up against a wall. He went on to create series such as “Plains” and “Squares,” which featured checkerboard sculptures made of steel, aluminum, zinc, and magnesium plates. Viewers were encouraged to walk across these pieces, experiencing changes in texture and sound.
Although Carl Andre’s work eventually gained recognition and acclaim, it was not without controversy. When the Tate Gallery in Britain acquired his sculpture “Equivalent VIII” in 1966, conservative critics dismissed it as a “pile of bricks.” One visitor even threw blue dye on the exhibit. Similarly, his outdoor sculpture “Stone Field Sculpture” in Hartford, Connecticut, was met with criticism from locals who failed to understand its artistic value.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Carl Andre was known for his unorthodox personal style and political views. He espoused Marxist theories and criticized commercial forces in the art world. Despite the controversy surrounding his work, he remained a prominent figure in the art world, regularly exhibiting at major museums.
However, Carl Andre’s reputation took a significant hit in 1985 when his third wife, Ana Mendieta, died under mysterious circumstances. She fell to her death from a bedroom window in their apartment, leading to Carl Andre’s arrest on charges of second-degree murder. After three years of legal proceedings, he was acquitted in 1988. Nevertheless, the case continued to divide the art world, with Mendieta’s family and supporters maintaining that Andre was responsible for her death.
In the years following the trial, New York museums refrained from hosting solo exhibitions of Carl Andre’s work. However, his career eventually rebounded, and in 2014, a retrospective of his sculptures was held at Dia Beacon in the Hudson Valley. Despite the controversy surrounding his personal life, Carl Andre’s artistic legacy remains significant.
Carl Andre was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1935. He discovered his passion for art while studying on a scholarship at Phillips Academy prep school. After serving in the Army, he moved to New York City in 1957 and began creating wooden sculptures. His work gained recognition with his first solo show in 1965 and his first retrospective in 1970.
Carl Andre is survived by his fourth wife, artist Melissa L. Kretschmer, and a sister. His contributions to the art world will continue to be celebrated and debated for years to come..
– Carl Andre sculptor
– Austere sculptor Carl Andre.
