Richard Serra (American, born 1938) is one of the most distinguished sculptors of our time. He has long been acclaimed for challenging, innovative works that emphasize materiality and the interaction between viewer, site, and artwork. In the early 1960s, Serra and the Minimalist artists of his generation turned to unconventional industrial materials and began emphasizing the physical properties of their art. Over the years, Serra expanded his spatial and temporal approach to sculpture, focusing primarily on large-scale works, including many site-specific pieces related to particular architectural, urban, or landscape settings.

Serra’s early works were highly abstract, primarily involving molten lead thrown with great force against the walls of a studio or exhibition space. His better-known works, however, are large-scale Minimalist installations made from rolled metal or sheet metal (weathering steel). Most of these installations are freestanding and place particular emphasis on the material’s weight and texture. His outdoor steel sculptures undergo preliminary oxidation, but after 8 to 10 years, the color produced by rusting steel stabilizes into a uniform hue. Serra often builds installations specifically for particular sites, creating a striking contrast in scale with viewers.