Founded in 1928, SculptureCenter is one of the most vibrant and experimental sculpture galleries in New York City. It exhibits work by internationally recognized artists, and also supports young and emerging talent.
SculptureCenter’s exhibitions and programs encourage art’s creative possibilities and the ways it connects to other genres, including video, installation, performance, architecture and other media. It leads the conversation on contemporary art by highlighting sculpture’s specific potential to change the way we engage with the world.
Exhibitions
Since its founding in 1928, SculptureCenter has been one of New York City’s most innovative exhibition spaces. Its decades of experience connecting emerging and established artists with the public ensure that each exhibit is engaging, creative, accessible, and represents the latest trends in contemporary art.
Sculpture Center commissions and presents solo exhibitions to encourage contemporary experimentation in the field of sculpture. These exhibitions often utilize the center’s unique gallery space in a creative and unconventional way.
In addition to the exhibition program, SculptureCenter produces publications such as exhibition catalogs and artist books, hosts events and programs that complement our exhibitions, and offers a wide range of educational programming for children and adults. Through these initiatives, SculptureCenter fosters deep and long-term connections between artists, their work, and the community.
Public Programs
Sculpture center offers a wide range of public programs that include exhibition openings, artist talks, film screenings, and performances. These free events are open to the public and are a great way to learn more about sculpture.
In addition to the exhibitions, sculpture center also hosts a summer program called Public Process, where students work with artists and community members to create temporary public art. Past projects have included Mika Tajima’s Meridian (Gold), Xaviera Simmons: Convene, for the waterfront of Hunter’s Point South Park, and Words Like Love: Alphaville, among others.
Sculpture center has also helped to establish an Ohio Outdoor Sculpture database, which promotes awareness and appreciation of outdoor public sculpture. The OOS database includes images, historical data and condition information on more than 1,500 publicly accessible outdoor artworks in the state. The database is free to download and can be used by communities to recognize, preserve, and promote their outdoor sculpture.
Education
Sculpture center offers a full range of educational programs designed to engage students of all ages in the visual arts. These interactive and hands-on workshops are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Our program encourages a creative exploration of sculpture in the various facets of the medium, from handling clay to creating installations and assemblages to the visual imagery born of conceptual revelations.
In addition, students receive instruction in a wide variety of traditional and innovative practices. This includes woodworking, plaster work, sculptural casting in iron and bronze, aluminum and plastics, as well as laser engraving and 3-D rapid prototyping.
For young sculptors still in school, The Center also coordinates an internship program and an annual Design Assignments exhibition. Visiting artists contribute to student learning through lectures, open studios, and individual critiques of student work. The Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Award, a $25,000 grant to support travel and art making during the year after graduation, is also offered.
Events
In addition to exhibitions, Sculpture Center is a hub for conversations and engagement, providing critical resources to artists. It is one of the only cultural institutions offering creation, exhibition, mentoring, conversation and engagement, and support to sculptors as they build their careers.
Founded in 1928 as Clay Club, SculptureCenter has long been at the forefront of New York’s contemporary art scene. It is a space for contemporary experimentation in the field of sculpture and features primarily comissioned works, bringing the latest trends in contemporary art to its unique gallery spaces.
SculptFest22, the organization’s annual outdoor exhibition, opens September 10 and closes October 23. Designed and curated by Evan Morse, this year’s theme is Games. Featuring a wide variety of site-specific works, the festival is free and open to the public. In-person and virtual field trips are also available. These are 30-minute to hour-long interactive experiences that connect students with incredible works of art that relate to their school curriculum.