"Nevermore" — Abstract Steel Sculpture, Herbert Simon Estate, 1972

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An extraordinary, highly unique tour-de-force of mid-century American word art, "NEVERMORE" is a substantial 1972 textual brutalist steel sculpture from … Read more An extraordinary, highly unique tour-de-force of mid-century American word art, "NEVERMORE" is a substantial 1972 textual brutalist steel sculpture from the private collection of collected artist and university professor Herbert Simon.

Spanning a grand horizontal layout of 42 inches in width, this investment-grade architectural sculpture commandingly bridges raw industrial minimalism with clever Pop Art narrative. The composition features a heavy, solid steel three-sided pyramid obelisk tower from which a continuous, heavy-gauge steel rod is masterfully bent and welded to spell out the word "Nevermore" in fluid, expressive cursive typography. Referencing Edgar Allan Poe's iconic literary masterwork, the raw, burnished gray steel substrate retains its beautiful industrial studio patina with subtle natural metallic variations. This striking, linear silhouette interacts dynamically with shifting wall shadows and empty space. An exceptional statement piece designed to sit atop a mid-century executive desk, anchor a luxury library mantlepiece, or ground a moody dark-academic interior vignette. Dated 1972 by the artist's estate records.

About The Herbert Simon Studio Archive:This piece belongs to an exclusive, single-provenance acquisition sourced directly from the private estate and studio archive of celebrated American sculptor and university professor Herbert Simon (1927–2017). A student of abstract expressionist titans Hans Hofmann, Robert Motherwell, and Philip Guston, Simon served as a professor at Wilkes University for over 20 years, where his work bridged the gap between the New York School and academic structuralism. His monumental public commissions are permanently installed at major regional landmarks, including the 'Facets' aluminum installation at Wilkes University, the 'Aloft' sculpture at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, and civic plazas across Pennsylvania. Spanning over fifty years of creative evolution, this collection represents a rare opportunity to acquire investment-grade art with institutional provenance. See less