Cubi XXVI, Abstract sculpture at National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden in Washington DC, United States.
Cubi XXVI is an abstract sculpture made of stainless steel in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, composed of geometric blocks stacked and welded together. The polished surfaces reflect light and surroundings differently depending on the angle from which you view them.
The sculpture was created by David Smith in 1965 and later displayed at the White House before joining the National Gallery's collection in 1978. This path reflects how abstract metal sculpture gained acceptance in major American institutions during the 20th century.
Smith created this piece using methods learned from his background working with metal in factories. The stacked steel forms reflect how he transformed industrial techniques into fine art that visitors can walk around and experience directly.
The sculpture is displayed outdoors and can be viewed from all angles during museum hours, allowing you to walk around it freely. The polished steel surfaces can be bright in sunlight, so you might want to visit at different times of day to see how the reflection changes.
Smith inscribed the creation date directly onto the steel, a practice that reveals how he wanted to mark his artistic process in the material itself. This direct annotation transforms the work into a dated record of a specific moment in the artist's career.
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