"Swarm"— Abstract Aluminum Sculpture, Herbert Simon 1985

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A breathtaking, museum-grade architectural masterpiece titled "Swarm" (1985) by American sculptor, printmaker, and academic Herbert Simon (b. 1927). Sourced directly … Read more A breathtaking, museum-grade architectural masterpiece titled "Swarm" (1985) by American sculptor, printmaker, and academic Herbert Simon (b. 1927). Sourced directly from the artist's personal home garage and studio, 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 provenance value, the underside features the artist's original studio label bearing the handwritten classical signature "HERBERT SIMON FECIT / ANNO 1985" (using the 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 documented piece of 1980s regional art history, exhibited in the Sordoni Art Gallery's 1986 "Seven Sculptors" showcase.

Simon's academic pedigree — including his 23-year tenure as an art professor at Wilkes University, a solo retrospective at the Everhart Museum, and permanent municipal public installations — firmly positions this direct-from-studio piece as a well-documented fine art acquisition. 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 artist: Herbert Simon (b. 1927) is an American sculptor and printmaker who taught in the art department at Wilkes University from 1969–1992. A student of Hans Hofmann, Robert Motherwell, and Philip Guston, his work bridges 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. This piece was consigned by the artist and acquired through a local auction house. See less