2nd Sculpture 1962

Michael Bolus made this painted sculpture, 2nd Sculpture, in 1965. It’s made of painted steel and has a minimal color palette consisting of one strong red-orange hue, which feels very grounded against the textured floor and white brick wall. I'm trying to imagine what was going through Bolus' mind as he made it: Was he thinking about balance and tension? The sculpture has a playfulness, a sense of humor, and a bit of precariousness. I’m sure he put a lot of time and effort into making something that looks so effortless and spontaneous. I’m reminded of Anthony Caro's brightly painted steel sculptures. It’s cool to see how Bolus was playing with similar ideas, and I imagine they bounced ideas off each other as the sculptural landscape shifted in the 60s. Artists have always been in conversation with each other, across generations and geographies. We learn from those who came before us, and then we try to add our own voice to the mix. The conversation keeps evolving, and we hope it never stops!