to coincide with the launch of the American Masters exhibition
to the NGA for a period of not less than five years
to coincide with the launch of the American Masters exhibition
INSTALLATION OF A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL GIFT
Barnett Newman - Broken Obelisk 2004
Barnett Newman’s Broken Obelisk installed at Storm King Art Centre, New York, prior to it being packed for long term loan to the NGA
Barnett Newman was a prominent figure in Abstract Expressionism and Broken Obelisk is considered the signature piece among his sculptures. Newman created three versions of the three-tonne weathered steel sculpture in the late 1960s - intending the incomplete nature of the traditional civic monument to serve as a symbol of the nation’s unrest during the Vietnam War.
Since all the editions produced by Newman were held in museum permanent collections and rarely available for loan, The Barnett Newman Foundation commissioned this exhibition copy in 2005, so there was one work available for long term loan to other institutions.
Following significant artwork relocations, lengthy Parliamentary Triangle approval processes and engineering site challenges, the work was installed at the entry to the NGA and launched as part of the celebrations for the American Masters exhibition in August 2018.
Despite the work originally being loaned to the NGA for five years, Broken Obelisk was later generously gifted to the NGA by the Barnett Newman Foundation, in honour of the retirement of the Director of the institution, Dr Gerard Vaughan and his commitment to the study of art and to museum leadership.
Dr. Vaughan, Director of the NGA said, ‘I was deeply touched by their wish to make this hugely generous gift in honour of my term as Director.