Renowned minimalist sculptor Robert Grosvenor, who pioneered the minimalist art movement before carving out his unique path, passes away at 88.
Robert Grosvenor, a renowned sculptor known for his unconventional and thought-provoking works, passed away in New York at the age of 88. Grosvenor's art career spanned over six decades, during which he gained acclaim in the 1960s in New York and continued to make a lasting impact on the art world until his death.
Born in New York in 1937, Grosvenor was raised in Newport, Rhode Island, and Arizona. His artistic journey began during his military service, where he befriended sculptor Mark di Suvero, who introduced him to other artists. After his service, Grosvenor departed the US to study art at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris during the 1950s.
Upon his return to the US in 1959, Grosvenor started creating works that he described as "paintings that came off the wall." However, he didn't keep these early creations. His artistic evolution continued, and he is best known for his sculptures that diverged from Minimalism, despite being spare and made from industrial materials.
Grosvenor's works were often left untitled, a choice that he felt made them more complete and simpler. His sculptures ranged from steel forms that extended from ceilings, creosote-covered wood beams, and even sculptures resembling cars with altered surfaces. In Untitled, a pool of water sits atop a rubber liner encased in cement blocks, reflecting the ceiling above.
Grosvenor's art was not confined to traditional gallery spaces. In recent years, his art has continued to appear in unusual places, such as the Surrealism-inspired Venice Biennale in 2022. He also appeared in two editions of Documenta and showed with gallerists like Paula Cooper and Virginia Dwan.
Grosvenor's works were often met with criticism, with some critics describing his methods as violent. During the 1970s, he began making sculptures using wood beams, sawing and breaking his materials in ways that some found aggressive. Yet, he continued to push boundaries, applying creosote, a toxic and pungent material, to his wooden sculptures.
In the 1960s, Grosvenor gained acclaim in New York, appearing in shows like "Primary Structures" at the Jewish Museum. His first fully three-dimensional work, a 1965 wood and steel piece called Topanga, appeared at Park Place, a New York cooperative. The gallery that succeeded Park Place in the 1960s and represented the works of Robert Grosvenor until recently is the Leo Castelli Gallery.
Paula Cooper, who served as director at Park Place, continued to represent Grosvenor through the present. Roberta Smith, writing in the New York Times, described Grosvenor as the "lone wolf of sculpture." John Yau, a critic, wrote a review for Hyperallergic about a 2020 sculpture by Grosvenor, titled Untitled.
Grosvenor's sculptures in later decades diverged from Minimalism, despite being spare and made from industrial materials. His works were not just objects but experiences, inviting viewers to engage with them in unique ways. Grosvenor died just days after a survey of his work opened at the Fridericianum museum in Kassel. His legacy as an innovative and unconventional sculptor will continue to be felt in the art world for years to come.
