Chicago Picasso

Chicago Picasso is a monumental public sculpture by the renowned Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Unveiled in 1967, it stands in the plaza of the Richard J. Daley Center in the Chicago Loop. The abstract Cubist work, fabricated from Cor-Ten steel, was a gift from the artist to the people of Chicago and has become an iconic, if enigmatic, symbol of the city's commitment to modern art and architecture.

History and commission

The project originated in 1963 when the architects of the new Chicago Civic Center (later renamed the Richard J. Daley Center), including William E. Hartmann of the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, sought a major artwork for its plaza. Hartmann, a friend of Picasso's dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler, traveled to the artist's studio in Mougins, France, to propose the commission. Picasso, who had never before created a large-scale public sculpture, agreed without a fee, producing initial sketches in 1965. The commission was overseen by the city's Public Building Commission, with significant advocacy from Mayor Richard J. Daley and support from civic leaders like William McCormick Blair. The project faced some political scrutiny over its cost and abstract nature, but construction proceeded with funding from charitable foundations, including the Field Foundation of Illinois.

Design and construction

Picasso's final design was a maquette, a detailed model about four feet tall, delivered to Chicago in 1966. The monumental fabrication was engineered by the American Bridge Company, a division of United States Steel. Using Picasso's model, engineers created precise blueprints and employed innovative techniques to translate the complex forms. The sculpture was constructed from 162 tons of Cor-Ten steel, a then-novel alloy that develops a stable, rust-like patina, chosen for its durability and aesthetic. The massive components were fabricated at the company's yard in Gary, Indiana, before being assembled on-site in Daley Plaza. The intricate process involved meticulous welding and fitting to realize the artist's vision at a scale of 50 feet.

Description and interpretation

The abstract, untitled sculpture is a quintessential example of Picasso's late Cubist style, featuring geometric planes and ambiguous forms. Its silhouette has been variously interpreted as a Picasso portrait of a woman, with a prominent vertical element suggesting a forehead and flowing hair, or as an African art-inspired baboon or Afghan Hound. Art historians often note its relationship to Picasso's earlier painted portraits, such as those of his lovers Marie-Thérèse Walter and Jacqueline Roque. The use of negative space and the interplay of two-dimensional design with three-dimensional volume are hallmarks of the artist's work. The deliberately enigmatic form invites personal interpretation, a quality celebrated by proponents of modern art like Art Institute of Chicago curator A. James Speyer.

Reception and legacy

Upon its dedication on August 15, 1967, the sculpture received mixed reactions, bewildering some citizens and critics accustomed to traditional monuments like the nearby Statue of the Republic. However, it was swiftly championed by the city's artistic community, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Tribune architecture critic Paul Gapp. Over decades, it has been embraced as a beloved civic icon, featuring prominently in films like *The Blues Brothers* and serving as a backdrop for public gatherings, protests, and the annual Christkindlmarket. Its success paved the way for other major public artworks in Chicago, such as Alexander Calder's *Flamingo* and Joan Miró's *Chicago*. The sculpture solidified Chicago's reputation as a world-class center for public art and modern architecture.

Location and display

The sculpture is permanently installed in Daley Plaza, the forecourt of the Richard J. Daley Center, a modernist tower designed by Jacques Brownson of C. F. Murphy Associates. The plaza itself, with its austere granite pavement, is a prime example of International Style urban design. The site is a vibrant public space, hosting the popular Daley Plaza Farmers Market and serving as a focal point for civic life. The sculpture's imposing scale plays off the surrounding architecture, including the Chicago Temple Building and the James R. Thompson Center. Its open, accessible setting encourages interaction, with the base often used as a seating area or a stage, fulfilling Picasso's wish for a dynamic relationship between art and the public.

Category:Sculptures by Pablo Picasso Category:1967 sculptures Category:Public art in Chicago Category:Cor-Ten steel sculptures