[The Herbert Simon Studio Archive] Monumental 1985 Abstract Aluminum Floor Sculpture "Swarm"

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A breathtaking, museum-grade architectural masterpiece titled "Swarm" (1985) by celebrated American sculptor, printmaker, and academic Herbert Simon (b. 1927). Sourced … Read more A breathtaking, museum-grade architectural masterpiece titled "Swarm" (1985) by celebrated American sculptor, printmaker, and academic Herbert Simon (b. 1927). Sourced directly from the 98-year-old living artist’s personal home garage and studio archive, this monumental installation piece boasts an ironclad lineage and immense cultural provenance. Spanning nearly five feet by four feet, this heavy, industrial-grade solid aluminum work represents a definitive, mid-career milestone in Simon's exploration of Space-Age minimalism and geometric rhythm.

Designed explicitly as a floor-bound or low-pedestal installation, the sculpture features a thick, solid machined aluminum base plate supporting a dynamic grid of heavy-gauge aluminum cylinders. Each tube is precision-cut at a sharp bias angle and permanently welded at alternating orientations, brilliantly capturing the chaotic yet mathematically precise kinetic energy of a swarm in flight. The meticulously brushed surfaces create a spectacular interaction with ambient light, casting a complex, shifting grid of geometric shadows across the room as the viewer shifts perspective.

Adding incredible institutional value, the underside features the artist's original, highly formal archival studio label bearing the handwritten classical signature "HERBERT SIMON FECIT / ANNO 1985" (using the prestigious Latin tradition for "he made it"), directly alongside his specific layout instruction: "(TO BE PLACED ON THE FLOOR OR A LOW PLATFORM.)" This exact sculpture stands as a heavily documented piece of 1980s regional art history, famously selected and exhibited in the Sordoni Art Gallery's landmark 1986 "Seven Sculptors" showcase.

Simon's profound academic pedigree—including his 23-year tenure as an art professor at Wilkes University, a celebrated solo retrospective at the Everhart Museum, and permanent municipal public installations—firmly positions this direct-from-studio masterwork as a high-signal fine art investment asset. A phenomenal, tactile statement piece designed to anchor a modernist loft floor, a broad architectural entryway, or rest proudly beneath a floating minimalist console.

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