Natural History

Richard StankiewiczWW-1959-M069975

1959·Welded iron pipes and boiler within wire mesh·14 3/4 x 34 1/4 x 19 1/4" (37.3 x 87 x 48.8 cm)

Catalogue

Year: 1959
Medium: Welded iron pipes and boiler within wire mesh
Dimensions: 14 3/4 x 34 1/4 x 19 1/4" (37.3 x 87 x 48.8 cm)
Collection: Museum of Modern Art
Artist: Richard Stankiewicz

Artist

Richard Stankiewicz

Sculpture

Richard Stankiewicz was an American sculptor who assembled welded steel constructions from industrial scrap and discarded machinery. Working primarily in the 1950s and 1960s, he transformed found metal fragments into abstract forms that retained visual traces of their former function, creating a dialogue between raw material and aesthetic intention. His practice anticipated later developments in assemblage and junk sculpture while maintaining a rigorous formal discipline. Stankiewicz's work demonstrated that industrial detritus could possess both conceptual and sculptural weight.

Philadelphia, PA, USA

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