Walter De Maria: RIP

California native sculptor, Walter de Maria, recently passed away this week at the age of 77. De Maria, who studied art at UC Berkeley in the 50s, was inspired by the Dada movement. In the 60s, his style shifted to a more minimalist style and eventually, De Maria became connected with the Minimalist, Conceptual and Land art movements. His most famous piece is The Lightning Field, in which 400 stainless steel poles were arranged in a grid shape to catch the rare lightning strikes that would strike in Catron County, New Mexico.

I was lucky enough to see one of his large instillation pieces while visiting family in Los Angeles during the Thanksgiving holiday. His piece, 2000 Sculpture, was on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art inside the Resnick Pavilion. The Pavilion is a large open space with room on one side to walk around the entire piece. I wish I took better pictures of this piece, had I known.



Walter De Maria: Dies at age 77