Scott Burton
American, 1939–1989
Low Piece (Bench)
INV-1469
Scott Burton
American, 1939–19891985/86
Low Piece (Bench)
Scott Burton American, 1939–1989 →sculpturemodern and contemporary art
Date
1985/86
Medium
Himalayan blue granite
Dimensions
43.2 × 121.9 × 45.7 cm (17 × 48 × 18 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Lannan Foundation
Best known for meticulously crafted pieces made of stone, metal, and concrete, Scott Burton consistently demonstrated a profound awareness of aesthetics and utility. Creating works that blur the boundaries between sculpture and furniture, he began his early studio pieces from the 1970s as found objects, usually mass-produced furniture. In the 1980s, he moved squarely into the realm of original design, producing rigorously reductive, geometric, and abstract pieces such as Low Piece (Bench). An example of Burton’s mature style, this piece conveys his passion for combining fine art and practical design and, in the process, opening up the scope of inquiry for both disciplines. All of Burton’s late works, including studio objects presented in traditional gallery spaces or site-specific projects for public areas, carry the potential for practical public use. Visitors are invited to use this sculpture as a bench.
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