Structure #35
Artist
Ben Tré, Howard
(American, 1949 - 2020)
Date1986
OriginUnited States of America
MediumCast glass, copper, and patina
Dimensions48 × 17 3/4 × 9 in. (121.9 × 45.1 × 22.9 cm)
ClassificationsGlass
Credit LineGift of the Leah and Richard Waitzer Foundation
Object number2022.14
Label TextHoward Ben Tré
(American, 1949–2020)
Structure #35
Cast glass, copper, and patina, 1986
Gift of The Leah and Richard Waitzer Foundation. 2022.14
Monumental, solid glass structures were the focus of American sculptor Howard Ben Tré, whose pioneering work in cast glass set him on a creative path to international recognition. Formative training in metal foundry technology enabled the artist to approach glass as the primary medium for his massive cast sculptures. Ben Tré had a predilection for the visual idiosyncrasies of glass; he loved the natural greenish tinge from its iron oxides, tiny air bubbles, internal striations imparted during this casting process, and the matte surfaces of the cooled forms.
Most of Ben Tré’s sculptures are composed of several cast glass elements joined with oxidized copper or bronze bands, achieving monumental scale. The resulting sculptures, often intended for outdoor installations, exhibit a subtle translucency. Shifting sunlight animates them throughout the day. Structure #35 has a strong verticality and an anthropomorphic form. It is a relatively early work by the artist, and has a quiet, totemic presence.
Status
On view
