“Stop and observe this granite bench, not just as a place to sit, but as a sculpture. Its simple form and luminous material invite you to consider the beauty and permanence of natural stone in a gallery setting.”
This solid bench, carved from Himalayan blue granite, invites a moment of pause. Its low profile and simple, rectangular form emphasize the material itself, a stone known for its subtle variations in color and texture. The cool, polished surface reflects ambient light, highlighting the natural speckles of black, gray, and a faint, almost ethereal blue within the stone. Although it functions as a piece of seating, its substantial weight and monumental presence suggest something more than mere utility. The work transforms a common object into a sculptural statement, quietly asserting its place in the gallery space. It was created in 1985, a period when artists often explored the boundaries between art and everyday objects, challenging traditional notions of sculpture.
- Artist
- Jane Wooster Scott
- Date
- 1985
- Medium
- Himalayan blue granite
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 43.2 × 121.9 × 45.7 cm (17 × 48 × 18 in.)
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The subtle blue-gray hue of the granite, giving the piece its name.
The polished surface, reflecting light and revealing natural patterns in the stone.
The clean, minimalist lines of the bench, emphasizing its material.
The sheer density and weight suggested by its solid form.
Jane Wooster Scott
1920 · United StatesJane Wooster Scott, an American painter, was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most reproduced artist in America.
Further Works by Scott
More works to explore
Beyond Scott: works from the same years.
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Pat Hearn
Andy Warhol · 1985 · Art Institute of Chicago
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Keith Haring · 1989
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Chuck Close · 2000 · Art Institute of Chicago
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Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)
Félix González-Torres · 1991
Same era · 1970s–2000s
Artist's Studio "Foot Medication"
Roy Lichtenstein · 1974 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1970s–2000s
Corpse and Mirror II
Jasper Johns · 1974 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1970s–2000s
Wu Street
Xu Bing · 1993 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1970s–2000s
Cremaster 5: The Queen of Chain
Matthew Barney · 1997 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1970s–2000s
Krach
Philip West · 1987 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1970s–2000s
It's a New Age
William Hook · 1992 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1970s–2000s
Cremaster 2: Deseret
Birgit Cullberg · 1999 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1970s–2000s
A Face from Georgia
Ivan Albright · 1970 · Art Institute of Chicago



