Skip to content

A Tribute to Kenneth Snelson

September 21 – November 12, 2021

Installation Views Thumbnails
Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
3-Way Core Tower, 1974-1997
stainless steel, unique
88 1/4 x 35 1/2 x 33 1/2 in. / 224.2 x 90.2 x 85.1 cm

3-Way Core Tower, 1974-1997
stainless steel, unique
88 1/4 x 35 1/2 x 33 1/2 in. / 224.2 x 90.2 x 85.1 cm

B-Tree II, 1981-2008

stainless steel, unique

108 x 114 x 130 in. / 274.3 x 289.6 x 330.2 cm

B-Tree II, 1981-2008

stainless steel, unique

108 x 114 x 130 in. / 274.3 x 289.6 x 330.2 cm

Mozart I, 1981-1982

stainless steel, edition of 4

35 x 44 x 43 in. / 88.9 x 111.8 x 109.2 cm

Mozart I, 1981-1982

stainless steel, edition of 4

35 x 44 x 43 in. / 88.9 x 111.8 x 109.2 cm

East River Drive Under Brooklyn Bridge, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 10

15 1/2 x 112 in. / 39.4 x 284.5 cm

East River Drive Under Brooklyn Bridge, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 10

15 1/2 x 112 in. / 39.4 x 284.5 cm

Parking Lot, Mercer and Grand Streets, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 10

15 1/2 x 100 in. / 39.4 x 254 cm

Parking Lot, Mercer and Grand Streets, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 10

15 1/2 x 100 in. / 39.4 x 254 cm

Times Square, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 15

15 1/2 x 109 1/2 in. / 39.4 x 278.1 cm

Times Square, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 15

15 1/2 x 109 1/2 in. / 39.4 x 278.1 cm

Tall Star, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 6

27 3/4 x 19 1/2 x 18 in. / 70.5 x 49.5 x 45.7 cm

Tall Star, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 6

27 3/4 x 19 1/2 x 18 in. / 70.5 x 49.5 x 45.7 cm

Double Shell Form II, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

22 1/2 x 22 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. / 57.1 x 57.1 x 57.1 cm

Double Shell Form II, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

22 1/2 x 22 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. / 57.1 x 57.1 x 57.1 cm

Flat Out, 1979

stainless-steel, edition of 4

16 x 20 x 11 in. / 40.6 x 50.8 x 27.9 cm

Flat Out, 1979

stainless-steel, edition of 4

16 x 20 x 11 in. / 40.6 x 50.8 x 27.9 cm

Four Chances, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

35 x 41 x 31 in. / 88.9 x 104.1 x 78.7 cm

Four Chances, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

35 x 41 x 31 in. / 88.9 x 104.1 x 78.7 cm

Corner of Chambers and Greenwich Streets, 1979

gelatin silver print, edition of 5

15 1/2 x 70 1/2 in. / 39.4 x 179.1 cm

Corner of Chambers and Greenwich Streets, 1979

gelatin silver print, edition of 5

15 1/2 x 70 1/2 in. / 39.4 x 179.1 cm

Forest Devil, 1977

stainless steel tubes and aircraft cable

216 × 384 × 426 in. / 548.6 × 975.4 × 1,082 cm


Installed at The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

Forest Devil, 1977

stainless steel tubes and aircraft cable

216 × 384 × 426 in. / 548.6 × 975.4 × 1,082 cm


Installed at The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

Forest Devil, 1977

stainless-steel, edition of 4

204 x 420 x 300 in. / 518.2 x 1,066.8 x 762 cm

 

Forest Devil, 1977

stainless-steel, edition of 4

204 x 420 x 300 in. / 518.2 x 1,066.8 x 762 cm

 

Greene Street III, 1975-1993

stainless-steel, edition of 4

32 x 27 x 23 in. / 81.3 x 68.6 x 58.4 cm

Greene Street III, 1975-1993

stainless-steel, edition of 4

32 x 27 x 23 in. / 81.3 x 68.6 x 58.4 cm

Sigma Data II, 1975-1992

stainless-steel, edition of 4

30 x 35 x 21 in. / 76.2 x 88.9 x 53.3 cm

Sigma Data II, 1975-1992

stainless-steel, edition of 4

30 x 35 x 21 in. / 76.2 x 88.9 x 53.3 cm

Free Ride Home, 1974-1980

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

23 3/4 x 42 x 35 in. / 60.3 x 106.7 x 88.9 cm

Free Ride Home, 1974-1980

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

23 3/4 x 42 x 35 in. / 60.3 x 106.7 x 88.9 cm

Black E.C. Tower, 1969-2006
black anodized aluminum upper modules, polished stainless-steel base module
504 x 132 x 114 in. / 1,280.2 x 335.3 x 289.6 cm

Installed at Pratt Institute Scultpure Park, Brookyln, New York. 

Black E.C. Tower, 1969-2006
black anodized aluminum upper modules, polished stainless-steel base module
504 x 132 x 114 in. / 1,280.2 x 335.3 x 289.6 cm

Installed at Pratt Institute Scultpure Park, Brookyln, New York. 

Black E.C. Tower, 1974

black anodized aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

41 x 14 1/2 x 12 1/2 in. / 104.1 x 36.8. 31.8 cm

Black E.C. Tower, 1974

black anodized aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

41 x 14 1/2 x 12 1/2 in. / 104.1 x 36.8. 31.8 cm

Equilateral Quivering Tower, 1973-1992

chrome-plated brass and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

102 x 42 x 36 in. / 259.1 x 106.7 x 91.4 cm

Equilateral Quivering Tower, 1973-1992

chrome-plated brass and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

102 x 42 x 36 in. / 259.1 x 106.7 x 91.4 cm

Easy K II, 1971-2001

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

13 x 77 x 13 in. / 33 x 195.6 x 33 cm

Easy K II, 1971-2001

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

13 x 77 x 13 in. / 33 x 195.6 x 33 cm

VX, 1968-1989

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

13 x 21 1/2 x 21 1/2 in. / 33 x 54.6 x 54.6 cm

VX, 1968-1989

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

13 x 21 1/2 x 21 1/2 in. / 33 x 54.6 x 54.6 cm

Needle Tower (model), 1968

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4
102 x 32 1/2 x 38 1/2 in. / 259.1 x 82.5 x 97.8 cm

Needle Tower (model), 1968

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4
102 x 32 1/2 x 38 1/2 in. / 259.1 x 82.5 x 97.8 cm

Trigonal Tower, 1962-1981

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

65 x 31 1/2 x 28 in. / 165.1 x 80 x 71.1 cm

Trigonal Tower, 1962-1981

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

65 x 31 1/2 x 28 in. / 165.1 x 80 x 71.1 cm

Tapered X-Column, 1948-1997

wood and black thread, unique

35 x 6 x 6 in. / 91 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm

Tapered X-Column, 1948-1997

wood and black thread, unique

35 x 6 x 6 in. / 91 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm

3-Way Core Tower, 1974-1997
stainless steel, unique
88 1/4 x 35 1/2 x 33 1/2 in. / 224.2 x 90.2 x 85.1 cm

3-Way Core Tower, 1974-1997
stainless steel, unique
88 1/4 x 35 1/2 x 33 1/2 in. / 224.2 x 90.2 x 85.1 cm

B-Tree II, 1981-2008

stainless steel, unique

108 x 114 x 130 in. / 274.3 x 289.6 x 330.2 cm

B-Tree II, 1981-2008

stainless steel, unique

108 x 114 x 130 in. / 274.3 x 289.6 x 330.2 cm

Mozart I, 1981-1982

stainless steel, edition of 4

35 x 44 x 43 in. / 88.9 x 111.8 x 109.2 cm

Mozart I, 1981-1982

stainless steel, edition of 4

35 x 44 x 43 in. / 88.9 x 111.8 x 109.2 cm

East River Drive Under Brooklyn Bridge, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 10

15 1/2 x 112 in. / 39.4 x 284.5 cm

East River Drive Under Brooklyn Bridge, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 10

15 1/2 x 112 in. / 39.4 x 284.5 cm

Parking Lot, Mercer and Grand Streets, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 10

15 1/2 x 100 in. / 39.4 x 254 cm

Parking Lot, Mercer and Grand Streets, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 10

15 1/2 x 100 in. / 39.4 x 254 cm

Times Square, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 15

15 1/2 x 109 1/2 in. / 39.4 x 278.1 cm

Times Square, 1980

gelatin silver print, edition of 15

15 1/2 x 109 1/2 in. / 39.4 x 278.1 cm

Tall Star, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 6

27 3/4 x 19 1/2 x 18 in. / 70.5 x 49.5 x 45.7 cm

Tall Star, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 6

27 3/4 x 19 1/2 x 18 in. / 70.5 x 49.5 x 45.7 cm

Double Shell Form II, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

22 1/2 x 22 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. / 57.1 x 57.1 x 57.1 cm

Double Shell Form II, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

22 1/2 x 22 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. / 57.1 x 57.1 x 57.1 cm

Flat Out, 1979

stainless-steel, edition of 4

16 x 20 x 11 in. / 40.6 x 50.8 x 27.9 cm

Flat Out, 1979

stainless-steel, edition of 4

16 x 20 x 11 in. / 40.6 x 50.8 x 27.9 cm

Four Chances, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

35 x 41 x 31 in. / 88.9 x 104.1 x 78.7 cm

Four Chances, 1979

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

35 x 41 x 31 in. / 88.9 x 104.1 x 78.7 cm

Corner of Chambers and Greenwich Streets, 1979

gelatin silver print, edition of 5

15 1/2 x 70 1/2 in. / 39.4 x 179.1 cm

Corner of Chambers and Greenwich Streets, 1979

gelatin silver print, edition of 5

15 1/2 x 70 1/2 in. / 39.4 x 179.1 cm

Forest Devil, 1977

stainless steel tubes and aircraft cable

216 × 384 × 426 in. / 548.6 × 975.4 × 1,082 cm


Installed at The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

Forest Devil, 1977

stainless steel tubes and aircraft cable

216 × 384 × 426 in. / 548.6 × 975.4 × 1,082 cm


Installed at The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

Forest Devil, 1977

stainless-steel, edition of 4

204 x 420 x 300 in. / 518.2 x 1,066.8 x 762 cm

 

Forest Devil, 1977

stainless-steel, edition of 4

204 x 420 x 300 in. / 518.2 x 1,066.8 x 762 cm

 

Greene Street III, 1975-1993

stainless-steel, edition of 4

32 x 27 x 23 in. / 81.3 x 68.6 x 58.4 cm

Greene Street III, 1975-1993

stainless-steel, edition of 4

32 x 27 x 23 in. / 81.3 x 68.6 x 58.4 cm

Sigma Data II, 1975-1992

stainless-steel, edition of 4

30 x 35 x 21 in. / 76.2 x 88.9 x 53.3 cm

Sigma Data II, 1975-1992

stainless-steel, edition of 4

30 x 35 x 21 in. / 76.2 x 88.9 x 53.3 cm

Free Ride Home, 1974-1980

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

23 3/4 x 42 x 35 in. / 60.3 x 106.7 x 88.9 cm

Free Ride Home, 1974-1980

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

23 3/4 x 42 x 35 in. / 60.3 x 106.7 x 88.9 cm

Black E.C. Tower, 1969-2006
black anodized aluminum upper modules, polished stainless-steel base module
504 x 132 x 114 in. / 1,280.2 x 335.3 x 289.6 cm

Installed at Pratt Institute Scultpure Park, Brookyln, New York. 

Black E.C. Tower, 1969-2006
black anodized aluminum upper modules, polished stainless-steel base module
504 x 132 x 114 in. / 1,280.2 x 335.3 x 289.6 cm

Installed at Pratt Institute Scultpure Park, Brookyln, New York. 

Black E.C. Tower, 1974

black anodized aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

41 x 14 1/2 x 12 1/2 in. / 104.1 x 36.8. 31.8 cm

Black E.C. Tower, 1974

black anodized aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

41 x 14 1/2 x 12 1/2 in. / 104.1 x 36.8. 31.8 cm

Equilateral Quivering Tower, 1973-1992

chrome-plated brass and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

102 x 42 x 36 in. / 259.1 x 106.7 x 91.4 cm

Equilateral Quivering Tower, 1973-1992

chrome-plated brass and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

102 x 42 x 36 in. / 259.1 x 106.7 x 91.4 cm

Easy K II, 1971-2001

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

13 x 77 x 13 in. / 33 x 195.6 x 33 cm

Easy K II, 1971-2001

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

13 x 77 x 13 in. / 33 x 195.6 x 33 cm

VX, 1968-1989

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

13 x 21 1/2 x 21 1/2 in. / 33 x 54.6 x 54.6 cm

VX, 1968-1989

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

13 x 21 1/2 x 21 1/2 in. / 33 x 54.6 x 54.6 cm

Needle Tower (model), 1968

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4
102 x 32 1/2 x 38 1/2 in. / 259.1 x 82.5 x 97.8 cm

Needle Tower (model), 1968

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4
102 x 32 1/2 x 38 1/2 in. / 259.1 x 82.5 x 97.8 cm

Trigonal Tower, 1962-1981

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

65 x 31 1/2 x 28 in. / 165.1 x 80 x 71.1 cm

Trigonal Tower, 1962-1981

aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 4

65 x 31 1/2 x 28 in. / 165.1 x 80 x 71.1 cm

Tapered X-Column, 1948-1997

wood and black thread, unique

35 x 6 x 6 in. / 91 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm

Tapered X-Column, 1948-1997

wood and black thread, unique

35 x 6 x 6 in. / 91 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm

A Tribute to Kenneth Snelson - Exhibitions - Marlborough New York

Kenneth Snelson, Tall Star, 1979, aluminum and stainless-steel cable, edition of 6, 27 3/4 x 19 1/2 x 18 in. / 70.5 x 49.5 x 45.7 cm. © The Estate of Kenneth Snelson.

Press Release

The Directors of Marlborough New York are pleased to present A Tribute to Kenneth Snelson, an exhibition of sculptures and photography from the artist whose work fuses mathematics, science, and art. The exhibition will open on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, and remain on view through Friday, November 12, 2021.

Kenneth Snelson (1927-2016) developed his patented tensegrity structural technology over two summers spent at Black Mountain College alongside his early collaborator Buckminster Fuller. This design innovation manifests itself as a seemingly weightless set of cables and tubes implausibly suspended in space, and would go on to become the driving principle of Snelson’s work. As he progressed in his artistic career, Snelson discovered tensegrity could take on a multitude of forms—from towers, to cantilevers, to arches—and exist at monumental scale, producing over forty-five large-scale sculptures that today exist in prominent public collections across the globe.

Though known primarily for his engagements with sculpture and related patented design technologies, Snelson also produced panoramic photographic works. His childhood curiosity with photography was reignited in 1975 at a camera swap, where he discovered a 35-mm panoramic camera. Presented in this exhibition will be Snelson’s homage to his love for New York City, sweeping panoramic cityscapes created utilizing a 1917 16-inch Cirkut camera, one of a mere thirty ever produced.

Snelson has received numerous honors and awards, including New York State Council on the Arts Sculpture, 1971; American Institutes of Architects’ Medal, 1981; Honorary Doctorate, Arts and Humane Letters, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 1985; American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Art Award, 1987; Membership, American Academy of Arts and Letters, 1994; Lifetime Achievement Award, International Sculpture Center, Hamilton, NJ, 1999; The Elizabeth N. Watrous Prize, National Academy of Design, New York, NY, 2002.

Snelson’s work can be found in public and corporate collections internationally, including Albright-Knox Museum, Buffalo, NY; The Art Institute of Chicago, IL; Dallas Museum of Fine Art, TX; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.;The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, Holland; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Shiga Museum of Modern Art, Japan; Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Washington, D.C.; Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN; and The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY.

A fully illustrated catalogue featuring works dated from 1948-2012, archival photography, and an essay by Dale M. Lanzone will be available at the time of the exhibition. Lanzone acted as national Director of the U.S. General Service Administration’s Cultural and Environmental Affairs programs, and over the past twenty-five years developed and managed many large-scale commissioned public and private fine arts projects and exhibitions.

Effective August 17, 2021, Marlborough requires all staff and visitors over the age of 12 to show proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 Vaccine for entry. Masks are required for all visitors. Proof of vaccination may include CDC Vaccination Card (or photo), NYC COVID Safe App, New York State Excelsior Pass, NYC Vaccination Record, or an official immunization record from outside NYC or the U.S.

Back To Top