Harry Bertoia
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Harry Bertoia at Sotheby’s
Harry BERTOIA Monumental sound sculpture from the standard oil commission, Chicago, beryllium copper and brass, in 2 partsEmbracing The Music of Our Lives“… a sculptural element breaking silence, it has a voice, hence we listen to it, maybe there’s something to say.” Harry BertoiaThe artist at the center of Sotheby’s latest contemporary show is Harry Bertoia. I must admit, before receiving the invite to the opening reception, I did not know too much about the designer except that I’ve always loved his namesake chairs (which thankfully have long been reproduced by Knoll, and Design Within Reach). Bertoia: A Celebration of Sound and Motion, is an exhibition that opened on Tuesday, February 11th and closes on Sunday, March 9, 2014.
This selling exhibit focuses on the ability of motion and space to mimic three-dimensional effects. Bertoia’s work marries aesthetic ideals and intellectual concepts to create abstract forms often inspired by those found in nature. The result? Non-stop interaction with the objects which brought sound, and occasionally, some laughter. Assembled in the 2nd floor gallery are more than 30 sculptures which range in size from monumental to diminutive and offer a comprehensive look at his career comprising some of the finest examples of the artist’s organic and sonambient works ever to appear on the market.The star lot of the exhibition is Bertoia’s sculpture screens from 1959 (installed in the lobby of the auction house, they will be on public view through the duration of the show), which were originally commissioned for the First National Bank of Miami and later privately acquired and gifted to the University of Virginia. The screens were a personal favorite. They’re so large, yet so inviting at the same time. These sculptures were among his most important commissions and were on the University of Virginia School of Architecture’s campus.
Harry Betray, Dandelion, Gilt stainless steel, brass and slateHarry Bertoia, Gong Pendants: hand-hammered gold over silver, and hand hammered silverHarry Bertoia, Untitled, melt-coated brass over steelIn the sculptures, I am concerned primarily with space, form and the characteristics of metal.” Harry BertoiaHarry Bertoia, Maquette for the “comet” Sculpture designed for W. Hawkins Ferry, brass coated metal wire and bronzeHarry Bertoia, Untitled, welded and patinated bronzeHarry Bertoia, Sculpture screens from The First National Bank of Miami, FloridaMelt-coated brass over steel, in 10 partsReception and Private View of BertoiaReed Krakoff, New York fashion designer and former executive creative director of Coach, Inc.Beryllium copper and brass, in 2 partsGong designed for Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway, patinated bronze“The work of Harry Bertoia defies categorization. Its singular, aggressively personal expression, sits on the borders between art, design, sculpture, and instrument.“Reed KrakoffFar right: Gong designed for Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway, patinated bronzeImages by High End Weekly™All rights reserved