Albert Paley, Splayed Bench, 1992, forged and fabricated steel with mahogany. Polk Museum of Art Permanent Collection.

Internationally renowned sculptor Albert Paley’s use of steel can be described as industrial poetry. His large sculptures combine an apparent heaviness with an almost lost sense of gravity as unfurled and animate forms construct massive works of art. Upon seeing his work, it is surprising to learn that Paley completes for each piece a planning process that includes an abundance of preliminary sketches and cardboard models.

This exhibition will focus on both sides of Paley’s creative process: the plan and the end product. His steel sculptures will be on view alongside the initial sketches Paley produced to create the sculptures. By understanding Paley’s process, viewers will gain a new perspective on his constructed steel creations.