When I began thinking about starting One River School, I was inspired by the audacious thinking that went into making bold contemporary art and I wanted to create a program that allowed us to “focus on the art of today”. Everyone knew about Picasso and Van Gogh, but I was disappointed that most people didn’t know about artists like Richard Serra, who died this past weekend at age 85.

Serra was an unrivaled postwar sculptor with a diverse practice. He made work by splashing molten lead on walls and casting forged steel into great arcs of solid metal, which curve and bend transforming spaces and create a visceral experience. His 2007 exhibit at MOMA and his 2022 exhibit at the Guggenheim in Bilbao almost defies rational thinking. Click on those links to see what I mean.

There is something that I admire about artists who stretch themselves to achieve unthinkable outcomes. And, given the magnitude of his achievements, I felt compelled today to recognize the life and passing of Richard Serra.