Metamorphosis – Richard Hunt

METAMORPHOSIS Richard Hunt’s retrospective @_WhiteCube showcases six decades of innovative metal sculpture, blending nature, myth, heritage, and civil rights influences. Until 29 Jun. Visit: https://shorturl.at/ZOIxY

Richard Hunt: Metamorphosis – A Retrospective is the first major European exhibition and the first posthumous show honoring the acclaimed American sculptor. It traces over 60 years of Hunt’s groundbreaking work, featuring more than 30 key sculptures. Hunt worked primarily in metal. He shaped a bold visual language that fused nature, mythology, African heritage, and civil rights history.

Born in Chicago in 1935, Hunt began sculpting as a teenager. A visit to MoMA introduced him to modern European sculptors like Picasso and González. Their influence sparked his early metal experiments. In 1955, he witnessed the open-casket viewing of Emmett Till. That moment deeply shaped his art. His 1956 piece Hero’s Head directly responded to Till’s murder.

In the 1960s, Hunt embraced open-form sculpture, using welded metal to “draw in space.” His work explored mythological themes and modernist abstraction. Later, he shifted toward larger public commissions. These pieces often honored civil rights figures and reflected Black resilience.

Hunt believed metal could express both power and grace. His sculptures balance strength with movement, history with innovation. Works like Steel Garden and Reaching Up show his lasting vision.

At his death in 2023, Hunt had held over 170 solo exhibitions. His influence endures across generations.. #contemporaryafricanart #exhibition #contemporaryart #art #blackart #africanmerican #blackjoy #gallery #whatson #sculpture #whitecube #civilrights