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Biography

A central figure in American art since the 1960s, Carl Andre’s (1935-2024) work has been guided by a commitment to pure matter in lucid geometric arrangements. He produces sculptures of rigorous simplicity by arranging unmanipulated found elements—such as bricks, lumber, and metal or stone tiles—into forms determined by the units of matter themselves and their surrounding spaces. Andre’s work has been shown extensively in important one-person and retrospective exhibitions, most recently at Dia:Beacon in New York (2014), which traveled to the Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid; Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin; Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. His work can be found in public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo; the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Tate Modern, London; and the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Carl Andre CuFe Triplets, 2018  3 copper plates, 3 steel plates 6-unit (2 x 3) rectangle on floor; one steel right-angle triangle interlocking with one copper right-angle triangle each unit: 3/16 x 19 11/16 x 19 11/16 in. (.5 x 50 x 50 cm) overall: 3/16 x 59 1/16 x 39 3/8 in. (.5 x 150 x 100 cm)

Carl Andre
CuFe Triplets, 2018 
3 copper plates, 3 steel plates
6-unit (2 x 3) rectangle on floor; one steel right-angle triangle interlocking with one copper right-angle triangle
each unit: 3/16 x 19 11/16 x 19 11/16 in. (.5 x 50 x 50 cm)
overall: 3/16 x 59 1/16 x 39 3/8 in. (.5 x 150 x 100 cm)

Carl Andre Twenty-Eight Red Brick Line, 1968 28 bricks in a row each brick, approximately: 3 1/8 x 7 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (7.9 x 19.7 x 5.7 cm) overall: 3 1/8 x 223 1/4 x 2 1/4 in. (7.9 x 567.1 x 5.7 cm)

Carl Andre
Twenty-Eight Red Brick Line, 1968
28 bricks in a row
each brick, approximately: 3 1/8 x 7 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (7.9 x 19.7 x 5.7 cm)
overall: 3 1/8 x 223 1/4 x 2 1/4 in. (7.9 x 567.1 x 5.7 cm)

Carl Andre 18 Algon, 2000 aluminum: 18 unit rectangle (9 header x 2 stretcher)  each: 1/4 x 5 x 8 3/8  in. (.6 x 12.7 x 21.3 cm) overall: 1/4 x 16 5/8 x 45 in. (.6 x 42.2 x 114.3 cm)

Carl Andre
18 Algon, 2000
aluminum: 18 unit rectangle (9 header x 2 stretcher) 
each: 1/4 x 5 x 8 3/8  in. (.6 x 12.7 x 21.3 cm)
overall: 1/4 x 16 5/8 x 45 in. (.6 x 42.2 x 114.3 cm)

Sculpture as Place, 1958 – 2010, Dia Art Foundation, Beacon, NY, (5/5/14 – 3/2/15), traveled to: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain (5/4 – 10/12/15); Hamburger Bahnhof Museum für Gegenwart Berlin, Germany (5/5–9/18/16); Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France (10/17/16–2/12/17); The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA (4/2–7/24/17)

Sculpture as Place, 1958 – 2010, Dia Art Foundation, Beacon, NY, (5/5/14 – 3/2/15), traveled to: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain (5/4 – 10/12/15); Hamburger Bahnhof Museum für Gegenwart Berlin, Germany (5/5–9/18/16); Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France (10/17/16–2/12/17); The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA (4/2–7/24/17)

Carl Andre CuAl Joint, 2018 copper and aluminum copper: 1/8 x 6 x 6 in. (.3 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm) aluminum: 3/8 x 6 x 6 in. (1 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm) overall: 3/8 x 6 x 12 in. (1 x 15.2 x 30.5 cm)

Carl Andre
CuAl Joint, 2018
copper and aluminum
copper: 1/8 x 6 x 6 in. (.3 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm)
aluminum: 3/8 x 6 x 6 in. (1 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm)
overall: 3/8 x 6 x 12 in. (1 x 15.2 x 30.5 cm)

Carl Andre 6 Hollow Square, 2008 20 Western red cedar timbers each: 36 x 12 x 12 in. (91.4 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm) overall: 36 x 72 x 72 in. (91.4 x 182.9 x 182.9 cm)

Carl Andre
6 Hollow Square, 2008
20 Western red cedar timbers
each: 36 x 12 x 12 in. (91.4 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm)
overall: 36 x 72 x 72 in. (91.4 x 182.9 x 182.9 cm)

Carl Andre Scatter Piece, New York, 1966 33 ball bearings, 13 pulley discs, 9 pieces aluminum channel, 14 plexiglas rectangular solids, 7 aluminum ingots site-specific ball bearings: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm) ea.; pulley discs: 15/16 in. (2.4 cm) ea.; aluminum channel: 1 3/8 x 1 3/8 x 1 3/8 in. (3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm) ea.; plexiglas pieces: 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (3.2 x 3.2 x 12.1 cm) ea. and one at 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 3/8 in. (4.4 x 3.8 x .09 cm); aluminum ingots: 1 x 2 1/4 in. (2.5 x 5.7 cm) ea.

Carl Andre
Scatter Piece, New York, 1966
33 ball bearings, 13 pulley discs, 9 pieces aluminum channel, 14 plexiglas rectangular solids, 7 aluminum ingots
site-specific
ball bearings: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm) ea.; pulley discs: 15/16 in. (2.4 cm) ea.; aluminum channel: 1 3/8 x 1 3/8 x 1 3/8 in. (3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm) ea.; plexiglas pieces: 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (3.2 x 3.2 x 12.1 cm) ea. and one at 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 3/8 in. (4.4 x 3.8 x .09 cm); aluminum ingots: 1 x 2 1/4 in. (2.5 x 5.7 cm) ea.

Carl Andre YUCATAN (detail), 1972, color photocopy on typewriter paper  26 sheets, each sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 inches (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Carl Andre
YUCATAN
(detail), 1972,
color photocopy on typewriter paper 
26 sheets, each sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 inches (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Carl Andre Quoid Zn, Düsseldorf, 1990 zinc plates, 4 units each: 3/8 x 6 x 12 in. (1 x 15.2 x 30.5 cm) overall: 3/8 x 18 x 18 in. (1 x 45.7 x 45.7 cm)

Carl Andre
Quoid Zn, Düsseldorf, 1990
zinc plates, 4 units
each: 3/8 x 6 x 12 in. (1 x 15.2 x 30.5 cm)
overall: 3/8 x 18 x 18 in. (1 x 45.7 x 45.7 cm)

Carl Andre Seven Books: Three Operas, A Theory of Poetry, America Drill, Passport, One Hundred Sonnets, Lyrics and Odes, Shape and Structure, 1969-1979 set of seven books, xerox manuscripts in binders 11" x 8 1/2" each page Published by Dwan Gallery, New York, and Seth Siegelaub
Carl Andre
Seven Books: Three Operas, A Theory of Poetry, America Drill, Passport, One Hundred Sonnets, Lyrics and Odes, Shape and Structure, 1969-1979
set of seven books, xerox manuscripts in binders
11" x 8 1/2" each page
Published by Dwan Gallery, New York, and Seth Siegelaub
Carl Andre Seven Books: Three Operas, A Theory of Poetry, America Drill, Passport, One Hundred Sonnets, Lyrics and Odes, Shape and Structure, 1969-1979 set of seven books, xerox manuscripts in binders 11" x 8 1/2" each page Published by Dwan Gallery, New York, and Seth Siegelaub

Carl Andre
Seven Books: Three Operas, A Theory of Poetry, America Drill, Passport, One Hundred Sonnets, Lyrics and Odes, Shape and Structure, 1969-1979
set of seven books, xerox manuscripts in binders
11" x 8 1/2" each page
Published by Dwan Gallery, New York, and Seth Siegelaub

Carl Andre North-East Deck, Glarus, Switzerland 1993 hot-rolled steel 10 units: 9-unit square (3 x 3) on floor with tenth unit superimposed on north-east unit each: 1/4 x 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (.6 x 50.2 x 50.2 cm) overall: 1/4 x 59 x 59 in. (.6 x 149.9 x 149.9 cm)
Carl Andre
North-East Deck, Glarus, Switzerland 1993
hot-rolled steel
10 units: 9-unit square (3 x 3) on floor with tenth unit superimposed on north-east unit
each: 1/4 x 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (.6 x 50.2 x 50.2 cm)
overall: 1/4 x 59 x 59 in. (.6 x 149.9 x 149.9 cm)
Carl Andre North-East Deck, Glarus, Switzerland 1993 hot-rolled steel 10 units: 9-unit square (3 x 3) on floor with tenth unit superimposed on north-east unit each: 1/4 x 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (.6 x 50.2 x 50.2 cm) overall: 1/4 x 59 x 59 in. (.6 x 149.9 x 149.9 cm)

Carl Andre
North-East Deck, Glarus, Switzerland 1993
hot-rolled steel
10 units: 9-unit square (3 x 3) on floor with tenth unit superimposed on north-east unit
each: 1/4 x 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (.6 x 50.2 x 50.2 cm)
overall: 1/4 x 59 x 59 in. (.6 x 149.9 x 149.9 cm)

Carl Andre Fore River Crane, 1993 Western red cedar, 5 units each: 12 x 12 x 36 in. (30.5 x 30.5 x 91.4 cm) overall: 36 x 36 x 36 in. (91.4 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm)

Carl Andre
Fore River Crane, 1993
Western red cedar, 5 units
each: 12 x 12 x 36 in. (30.5 x 30.5 x 91.4 cm)
overall: 36 x 36 x 36 in. (91.4 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm)

 

Carl Andre CuFe Triplets, 2018  3 copper plates, 3 steel plates 6-unit (2 x 3) rectangle on floor; one steel right-angle triangle interlocking with one copper right-angle triangle each unit: 3/16 x 19 11/16 x 19 11/16 in. (.5 x 50 x 50 cm) overall: 3/16 x 59 1/16 x 39 3/8 in. (.5 x 150 x 100 cm)

Carl Andre
CuFe Triplets, 2018 
3 copper plates, 3 steel plates
6-unit (2 x 3) rectangle on floor; one steel right-angle triangle interlocking with one copper right-angle triangle
each unit: 3/16 x 19 11/16 x 19 11/16 in. (.5 x 50 x 50 cm)
overall: 3/16 x 59 1/16 x 39 3/8 in. (.5 x 150 x 100 cm)

Carl Andre Twenty-Eight Red Brick Line, 1968 28 bricks in a row each brick, approximately: 3 1/8 x 7 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (7.9 x 19.7 x 5.7 cm) overall: 3 1/8 x 223 1/4 x 2 1/4 in. (7.9 x 567.1 x 5.7 cm)

Carl Andre
Twenty-Eight Red Brick Line, 1968
28 bricks in a row
each brick, approximately: 3 1/8 x 7 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (7.9 x 19.7 x 5.7 cm)
overall: 3 1/8 x 223 1/4 x 2 1/4 in. (7.9 x 567.1 x 5.7 cm)

Carl Andre 18 Algon, 2000 aluminum: 18 unit rectangle (9 header x 2 stretcher)  each: 1/4 x 5 x 8 3/8  in. (.6 x 12.7 x 21.3 cm) overall: 1/4 x 16 5/8 x 45 in. (.6 x 42.2 x 114.3 cm)

Carl Andre
18 Algon, 2000
aluminum: 18 unit rectangle (9 header x 2 stretcher) 
each: 1/4 x 5 x 8 3/8  in. (.6 x 12.7 x 21.3 cm)
overall: 1/4 x 16 5/8 x 45 in. (.6 x 42.2 x 114.3 cm)

Sculpture as Place, 1958 – 2010, Dia Art Foundation, Beacon, NY, (5/5/14 – 3/2/15), traveled to: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain (5/4 – 10/12/15); Hamburger Bahnhof Museum für Gegenwart Berlin, Germany (5/5–9/18/16); Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France (10/17/16–2/12/17); The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA (4/2–7/24/17)

Sculpture as Place, 1958 – 2010, Dia Art Foundation, Beacon, NY, (5/5/14 – 3/2/15), traveled to: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain (5/4 – 10/12/15); Hamburger Bahnhof Museum für Gegenwart Berlin, Germany (5/5–9/18/16); Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France (10/17/16–2/12/17); The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA (4/2–7/24/17)

Carl Andre CuAl Joint, 2018 copper and aluminum copper: 1/8 x 6 x 6 in. (.3 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm) aluminum: 3/8 x 6 x 6 in. (1 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm) overall: 3/8 x 6 x 12 in. (1 x 15.2 x 30.5 cm)

Carl Andre
CuAl Joint, 2018
copper and aluminum
copper: 1/8 x 6 x 6 in. (.3 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm)
aluminum: 3/8 x 6 x 6 in. (1 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm)
overall: 3/8 x 6 x 12 in. (1 x 15.2 x 30.5 cm)

Carl Andre 6 Hollow Square, 2008 20 Western red cedar timbers each: 36 x 12 x 12 in. (91.4 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm) overall: 36 x 72 x 72 in. (91.4 x 182.9 x 182.9 cm)

Carl Andre
6 Hollow Square, 2008
20 Western red cedar timbers
each: 36 x 12 x 12 in. (91.4 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm)
overall: 36 x 72 x 72 in. (91.4 x 182.9 x 182.9 cm)

Carl Andre Scatter Piece, New York, 1966 33 ball bearings, 13 pulley discs, 9 pieces aluminum channel, 14 plexiglas rectangular solids, 7 aluminum ingots site-specific ball bearings: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm) ea.; pulley discs: 15/16 in. (2.4 cm) ea.; aluminum channel: 1 3/8 x 1 3/8 x 1 3/8 in. (3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm) ea.; plexiglas pieces: 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (3.2 x 3.2 x 12.1 cm) ea. and one at 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 3/8 in. (4.4 x 3.8 x .09 cm); aluminum ingots: 1 x 2 1/4 in. (2.5 x 5.7 cm) ea.

Carl Andre
Scatter Piece, New York, 1966
33 ball bearings, 13 pulley discs, 9 pieces aluminum channel, 14 plexiglas rectangular solids, 7 aluminum ingots
site-specific
ball bearings: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm) ea.; pulley discs: 15/16 in. (2.4 cm) ea.; aluminum channel: 1 3/8 x 1 3/8 x 1 3/8 in. (3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm) ea.; plexiglas pieces: 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (3.2 x 3.2 x 12.1 cm) ea. and one at 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 3/8 in. (4.4 x 3.8 x .09 cm); aluminum ingots: 1 x 2 1/4 in. (2.5 x 5.7 cm) ea.

Carl Andre YUCATAN (detail), 1972, color photocopy on typewriter paper  26 sheets, each sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 inches (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Carl Andre
YUCATAN
(detail), 1972,
color photocopy on typewriter paper 
26 sheets, each sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 inches (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Carl Andre Quoid Zn, Düsseldorf, 1990 zinc plates, 4 units each: 3/8 x 6 x 12 in. (1 x 15.2 x 30.5 cm) overall: 3/8 x 18 x 18 in. (1 x 45.7 x 45.7 cm)

Carl Andre
Quoid Zn, Düsseldorf, 1990
zinc plates, 4 units
each: 3/8 x 6 x 12 in. (1 x 15.2 x 30.5 cm)
overall: 3/8 x 18 x 18 in. (1 x 45.7 x 45.7 cm)

Carl Andre Seven Books: Three Operas, A Theory of Poetry, America Drill, Passport, One Hundred Sonnets, Lyrics and Odes, Shape and Structure, 1969-1979 set of seven books, xerox manuscripts in binders 11" x 8 1/2" each page Published by Dwan Gallery, New York, and Seth Siegelaub

Carl Andre
Seven Books: Three Operas, A Theory of Poetry, America Drill, Passport, One Hundred Sonnets, Lyrics and Odes, Shape and Structure, 1969-1979
set of seven books, xerox manuscripts in binders
11" x 8 1/2" each page
Published by Dwan Gallery, New York, and Seth Siegelaub

Carl Andre North-East Deck, Glarus, Switzerland 1993 hot-rolled steel 10 units: 9-unit square (3 x 3) on floor with tenth unit superimposed on north-east unit each: 1/4 x 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (.6 x 50.2 x 50.2 cm) overall: 1/4 x 59 x 59 in. (.6 x 149.9 x 149.9 cm)

Carl Andre
North-East Deck, Glarus, Switzerland 1993
hot-rolled steel
10 units: 9-unit square (3 x 3) on floor with tenth unit superimposed on north-east unit
each: 1/4 x 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (.6 x 50.2 x 50.2 cm)
overall: 1/4 x 59 x 59 in. (.6 x 149.9 x 149.9 cm)

Carl Andre Fore River Crane, 1993 Western red cedar, 5 units each: 12 x 12 x 36 in. (30.5 x 30.5 x 91.4 cm) overall: 36 x 36 x 36 in. (91.4 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm)

Carl Andre
Fore River Crane, 1993
Western red cedar, 5 units
each: 12 x 12 x 36 in. (30.5 x 30.5 x 91.4 cm)
overall: 36 x 36 x 36 in. (91.4 x 91.4 x 91.4 cm)