Cubi VII

Standing tall in the Art Institute's north garden, this gleaming sculpture, Cubi VII, immediately catches the eye with its reflective surfaces and seemingly precarious balance. Fashioned from industrial stainless steel in 1963, its large, geometric forms evoke a sense of monumental solidity, yet the arrangement of cubes and cylinders suggests a figure in motion, perhaps a torso with limbs. As you move around it, the sculpture transforms, shifting from a recognizable form to an interplay of architectonic volumes that challenge fixed notions of balance and a central axis. The artist used a wire-brush technique to create a gestural quality on the steel, allowing the polished surfaces to pick up and mirror the shifting light of its outdoor setting, making the work feel alive and responsive to its environment. This dynamic interaction between solid form, reflective surface, and surrounding space is what makes Cubi VII so compelling.