Anish Kapoor at the Gladstone Gallery
June 8, 2012

NEW YORK—Anish Kapoor, one of the most celebrated artists in contemporary art, is known for creating large scale sculptures that are sometimes outdoor works due to their monumental proportions. He was born in India and has lived in London for most of his life, where his work first made waves in the 1980s. Some of his most famous works include “Cloud Gate” in the Millenium Park in Chicago and ArcelorMittal Orbit, the massive tower commissioned for the London 2012 Olympics.

Both New York locations of Barbara Gladstone Gallery are showing new sculptures by Kapoor, marking his first solo exhibition in New York City in four years. The 24th Street gallery features twenty-two concrete mounds that were created by pouring the fast-curing substance onto metal pallets. These sculptures are organic and look as though they have been frozen in time, but could collapse and melt away if not for the durable choice of material. There is a certain tension between opposites impressions that they create. The 21st Street gallery has a single sculpture commissioned for the space made out of Cor-Ten steel. This enormous, circular sculpture creates a unique experience for the viewer that changes depending on the spot where they stand to gaze. When positioned within the opening of the sculpture, perception shifts as sound and light interact differently with the viewer in this dark space. The differences between the sculptures at these two places demonstrate the remarkable range of the celebrated Anish Kapoor, and the praise is well deserved.

Image via Arts.Observer