Cubi XI, Steel sculpture in National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Washington DC, United States.
Cubi XI is an abstract steel sculpture made from stacked geometric blocks of stainless steel located in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. The work stands at about 230 centimeters tall and features a carefully finished and polished metal surface.
Artist David Smith created this work as part of a large series of steel sculptures he developed in the 1960s. His experience welding in a car factory shaped his technique and approach to working with metal.
The sculpture shows how artists in the 1960s brought factory materials like stainless steel into the art world and created new forms of expression. The polished surface and geometric shapes represent a bridge between industrial craft and free artistic creation.
The sculpture stands outdoors in the garden and is freely accessible from outside, so you can visit it at any time. The park offers plenty of space to walk and explore, with paths that lead you around the works.
The surface was hand-finished with fine patterns that reflect light differently throughout the day. This careful surface treatment through grinding and polishing gives the sculpture a living, ever-changing appearance.
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