Skip to Content
Today Open today 10–11 members | 11–8 public

Hero Construction

Sculpture composed of irregular pieces of steel resembling a human figure.
© Richard Hunt

Image actions

  • Sculpture composed of irregular pieces of steel resembling a human figure.

Date:

1958

Artist:

Richard Hunt
American, 1935-2023

About this artwork

Richard Hunt created Hero Construction in 1958, one year after graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The sculpture is composed of found objects—old pipes, bits of metal, and automobile parts—that the artist discovered in junkyards and on the street. Using a torch like a paintbrush, Hunt welded these elements into a form that is abstract yet recognizable.

Hunt was fascinated with mythology, and Hero Construction can be related to other sculptures past and present, from ancient statues of Greek heroes to modern monuments of statesmen. The modest but monumental stance of the figure suggests a contemporary hero who maintains strength in the face of the uncertainties and dangers of the present age.

Status

On View, Gallery 200

Department

Contemporary Art

Artist

Richard Hunt

Title

Hero Construction

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1958

Medium

Steel

Dimensions

Without base: 162.6 × 73.7 cm (64 × 29 in.); Approx. base: H.: 12.7 cm (5 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold H. Maremont

Reference Number

1958.528

Copyright

© Richard Hunt

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.

Learn more

Image actions

Share