On view


American, 1932–2020
Spheres, 1973–75/1985
Concrete, fiberglass, and terracotta
36 x 35 x 39 in. (91.4 x 88.9 x 99.1 cm)
Gift of the artist and the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation
© The Estate of Grace Knowlton
Photo by Jerry L. Thompson
Grace Knowlton created spheres out of materials including concrete, clay, copper, steel, and iron. All bear subtle and unique imperfections that evidence their hand-crafted origins. The spheres—of widely varied scale—seem to walk a fine line between natural object and work of art when placed in Storm King’s environment. Knowlton referred to the process of their creation as “an ancient technique involving the laying on of hands.” She initially set out to make ceramic pots, until, as she said, “I got so interested in closing the pots, in making a secret space closed off forever, that it caught me and I never went back.”