Richard Serra, Sculptor of Impermanence and Site-Specificity, Dies at 85

Richard Serra (November 2, 1938 – March 26, 2024) has passed away at the age of 85. Renowned for his monumental steel forms such as "Cycle," the American artist also made significant contributions in the late 1960s that linked Minimalism with Post-Minimalism. Notable works include "Belts" (1966–67), "Splashing" (1968), "Thirty-Five Feet of Lead Rolled Up" (1968), "Splash Piece: Casting" (1969–70), and "One Ton Prop: House of Cards" (1969). These pieces examined themes of impermanence and uniqueness, resonating with the works of contemporaries like Robert Morris and Eva Hesse. Serra's innovative approach was acknowledged by curators Germano Celant and Harald Szeemann in the influential 1969 exhibition "When Attitudes Become Form." His gestural lead techniques paralleled Jackson Pollock's action painting, and he advanced site-specificity with pieces like "Spin Out, for Robert Smithson" (1972–73). The controversial "Tilted Arc" (1981) in New York's Federal Plaza was taken down in 1989 due to public backlash, leading Serra to define site-specificity as art that engages with its surroundings, influenced by the site's topography. Additionally, he showcased self-irony by portraying Hiram Abiff in Matthew Barney's "Cremaster 3" (2002). This article was authored by Christian Caliandro and featured in Artribune.