An absolute tour-de-force of mid-century American fine art, "RUST" is a monumental 1971 three-dimensional structural steel masterwork by collected sculptor and university professor Herbert Simon. Standing at a commanding 44 inches in height and spanning an expansive 32 inches in width and depth, this investment-grade architectural sculpture represents the peak of 1970s constructivist and brutalist design. Fabricated from heavy-gauge industrial studio steel, the composition utilizes intersecting geometric planes and hollow structural blocks to manipulate space, casting bold architectural shadows that shift continuously depending on the viewer's perspective. A substantial, gallery-scale work from the Herbert Simon
estate collection, showcasing the artist's move into large-format welded steel.

About The Herbert Simon Studio Archive: This piece belongs to an exclusive, single-provenance acquisition sourced directly from the private estate and studio archive of celebrated American sculptor and university professor Herbert Simon (1927–2017). A student of abstract expressionist titans Hans Hofmann, Robert Motherwell, and Philip Guston, Simon served as a professor at Wilkes University for over 20 years, where his work bridged the gap between the New York School and academic structuralism. His monumental public commissions are permanently installed at major regional landmarks, including the 'Facets' aluminum installation at Wilkes University, the 'Aloft' sculpture at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, and civic plazas across Pennsylvania. Spanning over fifty years of creative evolution, this collection represents a rare opportunity to acquire investment-grade art with institutional provenance.


Condition:
Alterations: Original Condition Unaltered
Imperfections: Some Imperfections
Condition Notes: Excellent vintage condition. The piece exhibits a spectacular, uniform, and factory-stable oxidized rust patina that serves as the core intentional aesthetic of the sculpture. The structural joints are rock-solid and stable. Made of heavy-gauge studio steel.

Origin:
United States

Materials & Techniques:
Steel

International: No International Shipping for this auction.
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Original Condition Unaltered; Some Imperfections; Excellent vintage condition. The piece exhibits a spectacular, uniform, and factory-stable oxidized rust patina that serves as the core intentional aesthetic of the sculpture. The structural joints are rock-solid and stable. Made of heavy-gauge studio steel.