Chicago Picasso, Steel sculpture in Daley Plaza, Chicago, USA
The Chicago Picasso is a Cor-Ten steel structure that rises approximately 50 feet above Daley Plaza in the downtown area and weighs around 162 tons. The angular shapes and geometric lines form an abstract composition that suggests curved planes and sharp edges.
The architects of the Richard J. Daley Center commissioned Pablo Picasso in 1963 to create this piece, which he completed as a gift to the city and was unveiled in 1967. The artist refused payment and instead crafted the model at his studio in southern France.
Downtown workers and visitors use the plaza beneath the sculpture for lunch breaks and meetings, while the iron-brown surface slowly weathers and develops its characteristic color. Children sometimes climb over the wide base, which has made the piece part of daily life in the area.
The piece stands at 50 West Washington Street, where it is visible across the full width of the plaza. Visitors can access the site at any time, and the area is often used for performances, markets, and community gatherings.
The steel sections were fabricated in Gary, Indiana, and then transported to the site for assembly, with the final construction taking several months. Some viewers recognize the outline of an Afghan Hound in the profile, while others see a female face.
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