GRAND RAPIDS, MI —A towering, 19.5-foot bronze sculpture, nicknamed “Princess” by New York-based artist Ursula von Rydingsvard, has been installed at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
The sculpture, built using cedar beams cast in bronze, features a perforated lace top that “appears to dissolve into the sky and gently glows” from internal lighting after dark, according to a release.
Its formal name is Brown Bowl with Lace.
“Ursula von Rydingsvard is one of the most compelling sculptors working today, and we are delighted to have her work enter our collection with such a grand and powerful example as Bronze Bowl with Lace,” said Suzanne Ramljak, vice president of collections & curatorial affairs at Meijer Gardens.
Workers at Meijer Gardens installed the 12,600-pound sculpture May 13.
Brown Bowl with Lace joins Meijer Gardens’ collection of more than 300 sculptures, adding diversity and providing a new focal point for the garden and concert venue.
“Bronze Bowl with Lace was my first monumental bronze sculpture and the first to incorporate openwork ‘lace’ in bronze so that one can see the sky through its upper crown,” von Rydingsvard said. “I am thrilled this sculpture has a permanent home at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.”
Ursula von Rydingsvard’s 12,600-pound “Bronze Bowl with Lace” features a perforated top that glows after dark, joining over 300 sculptures in the park’s collection.Courtesy
The sculpture’s acquisition was made possible by Fred and Lena Meijer and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation, according to a release.
“As we celebrate the 30th year of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, we remain dedicated to growing and diversifying our world-class sculpture collection,” said Charles Burke, president and CEO of Meijer Gardens. “The addition of this extraordinary work by Ursula von Rydingsvard reflects our commitment to bringing transformative art to our guests—sculptures that challenge, inspire, and connect us.”
Related: Frederik Meijer Gardens marks 30 years as major Michigan cultural destination
Von Rydingsvard was born in 1942 in Deensen, Germany.
She’s best known for creating large-scale, abstract sculptures from cedar beams, many of which refer to everyday objects such as tools, bowls and vessels, according to Meijer Gardens.
Her work can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Storm King Art Center in Orange County, New York, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
