For V.T.

For centuries, artists have explored the relation between human and geometric proportions.

Smith’s sculptures are non-figurative, but he was always thinking about the scale of the human body and the ways that people would interact with his geometric forms. This work is from a series of nine sculptures, each created for a friend of the artist and bearing that person’s initials. Although the pieces are inanimate, Smith called them “presences.”

An architect and teacher for most of his life, Tony Smith turned to sculpture when he was 50 years old and quickly won international acclaim for his rigorous geometric work.  His bold sculptures explore ideas of scale, and of the essence of the sculptural form.  This work is one of nine sculptures from his "For…" series.  Conceived in the summer of 1969, the nine works were gifts for friends whose initials provided the titles.