''Ad Astra'' is a public artwork by
American artist
Richard Lippold
Richard Lippold (May 3, 1915 – August 22, 2002) was an American sculptor, known for his geometric constructions using wire as a medium.
Life
Lippold was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He studied at the University of Chicago, and graduated from ...
. The
abstract sculpture is located outside on the Jefferson Drive entrance of and in the collection of the
National Air and Space Museum in
Washington, D.C.
)
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The sculpture's title is
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
, meaning
"To the Stars".
Description
This abstract statue is made of gold-colored polished
stainless steel. Standing at 100 feet tall, the piece consists of a "...three-planed narrow shaft ending in a pointed tip, penetrates a triple star-like cluster near its apex".
[ "Lippard, Richard"](_blank)
''The Oxford dictionary of American art and artists'', Ann Lee Morgan
Information
Lippold believed that "the characteristic art of our time deals with the conquest of space", with ''Ad Astra'' symbolizing just that.
In 2009 the sculpture made an appearance in the film ''
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian''.
See also
*
''Continuum'' sculpture
* ''
Delta Solar''
*
List of public art in Washington, D.C., Ward 2
References
Further reading
* "Fabricating a soaring symbol of the space age ." ''
AIA Journal'' 65, (October 1976): Art Index Retrospective: 1929–1984 (
H. W. Wilson Company
The H. W. Wilson Company, Inc. is a publisher and indexing company that was founded in 1898 and is located in The Bronx, New York. It provides print and digital content aimed at patrons of public school, college, and professional libraries in bot ...
)
External links
''Ad Astra, an Abstract Sculpture by Richard Lippold''from What is Abstract Sculpture?
.
''Modern-day Medici wanted: Vatican looks for Donor for Richard Lippold Sculpture''from Collectos.com
from ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'', a brief mention of the sculpture as a notable work
1976 sculptures
Abstract sculptures in Washington, D.C.
Outdoor sculptures in Washington, D.C.
Sculptures of the Smithsonian Institution
Steel sculptures in Washington, D.C.
Southwest Federal Center
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