Marisa Merz

Marisa Merz
The Sky Is A Great Space
The Met Breuer, New York [link]

Does the exhibition title refer to the five decades of Merz’ work as the sole female artist in the Arte Povera movement? Or perhaps to the long-overdue recognition of her work’s significance? Or conceivably a reference to her organic aluminum1960’s Living Sculptures, which resemble polymorphic alien life forms? Merz transforms ordinary materials (both domestic and industrial) into extraordinary explorations of geometries and spacial relationships. Her sculptures defy easy categorization, fluidly moving between the personal/intimate to the monumental, between minimal and obsessively detailed. Despite the confines of gender and domestic obligations, not even the sky limited Merz’ prodigious and creative talents.

~ Colette Copeland
photographs courtesy of the author