Richard Hunt, major American sculptor, dies at 88
Renowned American sculptor Richard Hunt has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of over 150 public artworks created throughout his 70-year career. His innovative pieces often highlight the relationship between artificial materials and the natural world. Notable works include "Martin Luther King Jr. – I Have Been to the Mountaintop" in Memphis and "The Light of Truth" in Chicago. A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Hunt made history as the first Black sculptor to have a retrospective at MoMA in 1971. An exhibition of his work is set for spring 2024 in New York.
Key facts
- Richard Hunt died in 2023 at age 88.
- He created over 150 public works in 70 years.
- His work explores industrial materials and organic forms.
- He made sculptures for Martin Luther King Jr. and Ida B. Wells.
- Swing Low (2016) hangs at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- He was born in Chicago and graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1957.
- MoMA purchased his sculpture Arachne in 1956.
- He was the first Black sculptor to have a retrospective at MoMA in 1971.
- He was commissioned for Book Bird at the Obama Presidential Library.
- White Cube will exhibit his work in spring 2024 in New York.
Entities
Artists
- Richard Hunt
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Ida B. Wells
Institutions
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Museum of Modern Art
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Obama Presidential Library
- White Cube
Locations
- Chicago
- Memphis
- Tennessee
- Washington, DC
- New York