Steel Takes Flight in Chicago: Richard Hunt’s Sculpted Journeys

Metal bends, twists, and rises in Richard Hunt’s hands, transforming into forms that seem to defy gravity and expectation. Born in Chicago in 1935, Hunt’s sculptures have quietly shaped public spaces across the United States, yet his name often lingers just outside the spotlight. Hunt’s career is a study in contrasts: industrial materials meet organic inspiration, and abstract shapes evoke both machinery and the natural world. His public monuments—over 160 and counting—mark cityscapes from coast to coast, including tributes like Swing Low at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and The Light of Truth honoring Ida B. Wells in his hometown. In 1971, Hunt broke barriers as the first African American sculptor with a MoMA retrospective, threading his personal history into the broader story of American art. Now, as White Cube gallery brings his work to new audiences, Hunt’s sculptures continue to soar—reminding us that art, like metal, can be both grounded and free. #RichardHunt #PublicArt #Sculpture #Culture