Albert Paley’s Constellation was commissioned for the Rosemont Residencies in 2002. The work follows his naturalistic metal work style of the time. In 2002, Paley focused on natural subjects and using metal as a medium to represent nature. Here, he has created a constellation of stars and celestial bodies overlapping each other as they collapse space into a single plain. The artwork extends lower to create the door handles for the entry way into the building, allowing audiences to touch a small extension of the constellation.
Constellation
Albert Paley
b.1944
- Formed and fabricated stainless steel
- 2002
- 4.6 m x 0.8 m x 5.5 m
- 50 John Street, Toronto
About the artwork
About the artist
Albert Paley is an American modernist metal sculptor, who initially started working as a jeweler. Today, Paley has become one of the most distinguished and influential metalsmiths in the world, recreating three foundational elements through his work: the natural environment, the built environment, and the human presence.
Fun facts
- Although Paley is in his mid-70s, he is still wrangling steel with torches in his studio while banging his artworks into shape.
Engagement questions
- How do the different elements in this work contribute to a central theme or idea?
