Becoming World Renowned
"The theme of much of my work can be characterized as a fusion or harmonization of the vital tensions existing between dualities, such as the organic and the geometric, the organic and the abstract, or the past and the present, the traditional and the contemporary."
- Richard Hunt
First Solo Exhibition in New York
In 1958, Richard Hunt marked a significant milestone in his career with his first solo exhibition in New York, showcasing the emergence of a singular artistic talent. This pivotal moment at the Alan Gallery featured notable works, including Arachne (1956), generously lent by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and Hero Construction (1958), which found a new home at the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago. The Whitney Museum of American Art also recognized Hunt's brilliance, acquiring his piece Extending Horizontal Form (1958).
Due to his duty to serve in the army at the same period of time, Hunt was unable to attend the opening of his first solo exhibition at Alan Gallery.
Richard Hunt, Hero Construction (1958), welded steel, 64 x 29 in. without base. Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
"Hunt is one of the most gifted and assured artists working in the direct-metal, open-form medium—and I mean not only in his own country and generation, but anywhere in the world. What may not be so immediately apparent is the speed and aesthetic ease with which he has achieved so remarkable a position."
- Hilton Kramer, The Nation, March 23, 1963
Global Representation
The following years saw Hunt's influence amplify on the international stage. In 1960, his work made its overseas debut at the Galerie Claude Bernard in Paris, signaling the beginning of his global recognition. By 1962, he became the youngest artist to showcase his creativity at the Seattle World’s Fair, where he presented Organic Construction with Branching Forms (1961) among a select group of modern art icons.
In 1965, Hunt first exhibited his sculptures in Africa for the Ten Negro Artists from the United States group exhibition in Dakar, Senegal.
Hunt's talent continued to gain admiration, particularly in 1966, when his piece Medium Expansive Construction (1957) was acquired by the Israel Museum after being featured in MoMA’s critically acclaimed exhibition Recent Sculpture U.S.A.
In 1970, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York acknowledged Hunt’s unique artistic expression by acquiring Peregrine Forms (1965). The following year, the Museum of Modern Art in Vienna (Mumok) also recognized his contributions by acquiring the work Flight Section (1971).
Each acquisition and exhibition not only underscored the growing appreciation for Hunt's innovative approach throughout the art world but also solidified his legacy as a singular talent whose influence would resonate across continents and generations. His journey from a solitary exhibition in New York to prominent institutions around the globe exemplifies the trajectory of a visionary artist reshaping the landscape of modern art.
Richard Hunt, Organic Construction with Branching Forms (1961), welded steel, 71 1/4 x 20 3/4 x 14 1/4 in., which was exhibited at the Seattle World's Fair in 1962.