Bernar Venet Sculpture

Monumental Sculpture Exhibition Of Works By World-Renowned Artist Bernar Venet On View In New Orleans Historic Lafayette Square And Tulane Campus August 2011 - August 2013

Sculpture for New Orleans presents the large-scale sculptures of French artist Bernar Venet and transforms the landscape of Tulane University and Lafayette Square into a public sculpture garden

On September 1, 2011, Sculpture for New Orleans opens the twenty four month exhibition of sculptures by the internationally renowned French artist, Bernar Venet. New Orleans, one of the over 20 other international cities including Paris, Brussels, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, New York, and Chicago to host a Bernar Venet exhibition. 5 monumental sculptures have been sited by the artist, Sculpture for New Orleans and McClain Gallery of Houston, The sculptures are made of cor-ten steel, stand up to 13 feet high. The exhibition officially opens to the public September , 2011.

Sculpture for New Orleans presents monumental sculpture of artistic creativity in New Orleans exciting to see and the international cultural is a public art exhibition of this scope and scale simply unprecedented in New Orleans, the exhibition is an unparalleled opportunity to involve the City of New Orleans in viewing and experiencing art, supporting public art programs, art education, and bolstering civic pride.

French artist, Bernar Venet, whose long and distinguished career dates back to the 60s, first began producing monumental linear improvisations in steel in the early 1980s. His sculptures, on view in New Orleans, titled "Arcs", are considered by many to be his trademark work. His sculptures have been exhibited in major cities in the United States, Asia, Europe and South America, including Paris, Luxembourg, Geneva, Basel, Cologne, Brussels, New York, Chicago, St. Louis and Denver. As one of the world's most important and talked about artists today, Venet's sculptures have been acquired by museums such as The Museum of Modern Art, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The National Gallery of Art, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Switzerland, National Museum of Jakarta, Sonje Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea, The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, The Milwaukee Art Museum and The Detroit Institute of Arts.

Simply stated, Venet's sculptures study variations of lines - specifically of arcs and curves. However, it is the scope of the work in its mass, concept and execution that makes Venet one of the most prominent living sculptors today. Each series expresses different notions of Venet's interest in the mathematics of order versus chaos. Using a technique that has been described as "Action Sculpture in slow motion" Venet carefully balances his vision for the material with the steel's natural responses to the warping effects of pressure and heat.

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The Lafayette Square Conservancy is so honored to have the Bernar Venet Arc prominently displayed in the Square in Downtown New Orleans. We are an all volunteer non-profit dedicated to maintenance and improvement of Lafayette Square, a jewel of an urban park since 1788. Our partnership with Sculpture for New Orleans has enhanced our park incredibly.