Franz West: Millennium Park

Franz West: Millennium Park features three monumental installations by the acclaimed artist Franz West: Stonehenge (2011), Kugeln (Balls) (2002), and Dorit (2002), set against the iconic backdrop of Millennium Park. Franz West, an influential figure in contemporary art, is celebrated for his ability to merge sculpture with everyday life, transforming public spaces into interactive art environments. His work challenges traditional perceptions of art, emphasizing the importance of viewer interaction and the integration of art into daily experience.

Stonehenge, with its playful, abstract forms, invites viewers to engage physically and imaginatively, while Kugeln (Balls) presents three individual brightly hued spherical sculptures that disrupt conventional expectations of balance and form. Dorit, characterized by its organic shapes and vibrant colors, further exemplifies West's unique approach to sculpture, blending humor and a sense of the surreal with profound artistic statements.

By placing these sculptures in Millennium Park, this exhibition highlights West's belief in the accessibility of art and its power to transform public spaces. It encourages viewers to experience art beyond the confines of galleries and museums, promoting a deeper connection with the artwork and their surroundings. West’s innovative vision and his contribution to expanding the boundaries of contemporary sculpture make this exhibition a significant cultural event, offering a dynamic and immersive experience that celebrates the legacy of one of contemporary art's most transformative figures, in one of the world's most democratic and contemporary parks.

Artist Bio

Emerging in the early 1970s, Austrian artist Franz West (1947-2012) developed a unique aesthetic that engaged equally high and low reference points and often privileged social interaction as an intrinsic component of his work. While he was known primarily as a sculptor, his body of work incorporated drawing, collage, video, and installation, using papier-mâché, furniture, cardboard, plaster, found imagery, and other diverse materials. West studied at the Akademie der bildenden Künste, Vienna from 1977 to 1982.