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Fred Sandback

The American artist Fred Sandback (1943–2003) worked with elastic cord and acrylic yarn to delineate or bifurcate three-dimensional space, creating room-filling volumetric forms using the most minimal of means. By stretching single strands of yarn point-to-point to create geometric figures, Sandback’s near intangible objects nevertheless amounted to precise and subtle delineations of pictorial planes and architectural volumes. Despite this relationship to the built environment and to the practice of drawing, he became known primarily as a Minimalist sculptor, alongside such contemporaries as Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, Sol LeWitt and Carl Andre, but Sandback was also a forerunner of and a major influence on many of today’s installation artists. Contrary to his own matter-of-fact artistic statements about his practice, his work has been said to conjure up references to architecture, painting, sculpture and even music, given his early fascination for stringed musical instruments. 

Born in Bronxville, New York in 1943, he attended Yale as an undergraduate, studying philosophy and sculpture (BA, 1966), and as a graduate student in art (MFA, 1969). Solo exhibitions include Mana Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ (2018); Light, Space, Facts: Glenstone, Potomac (2016); When Attitudes Became Form: Bern 1969/Venice 2013’ at Fondazione Prada, Milan, Italy (2013); Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK (2011); Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Vaduz, Liechtenstein (2005); PS1, New York, NY, USA (1978); Kunsthalle Bern, Switzerland (1973); and Museum Haus Lange, Krefeld, Germany (1969); with his first commercial gallery shows staged at Galerie Konrad Fischer, Düsseldorf and Galerie Heiner Friedrich, Munich in 1968. Sandback’s work is on permanent display at Dia:Beacon, NY, US.

 

Untitled (Cornered Triangle, Fifth of Ten Cornered Constructions)

Fred Sandback
Untitled (Cornered Triangle, Fifth of Ten Cornered Constructions)

1980

Cadmium red medium acrylic yarn
360.7 x 403.9 x 403.9 cm 142 x 159 x 159 in


Untitled (Cornered Triangle, Fifth of Ten Cornered Constructions)

Fred Sandback
Untitled (Cornered Triangle, Fifth of Ten Cornered Constructions)

1980

Cadmium red medium acrylic yarn
360.7 x 403.9 x 403.9 cm 142 x 159 x 159 in

Untitled (Sculptural Study, Three-part Construction)

Fred Sandback
Untitled (Sculptural Study, Three-part Construction)

1976/2013

Black acrylic yarn
Dimensions variable

Untitled (two part vertical construction/venetian red)

Fred Sandback
Untitled (two part vertical construction/venetian red)

1977
Wool

dimensions variable 

Untitled (Sculptural Study, Two-part Construction)

Fred Sandback
Untitled (Sculptural Study, Two-part Construction)

1974-2013

Black acrylic yarn
Dimensions variable

Untitled (Sculptural Study, Two-part Construction)

Fred Sandback
Untitled (Sculptural Study, Two-part Construction)

1974-2013

Black acrylic yarn
Dimensions variable

Fred Sandback: Constructions and Drawings, installation view, Lisson Gallery

Fred Sandback
Fred Sandback: Constructions and Drawings, installation view, Lisson Gallery

1977
Installation view

Untitled (Sculptural Study, Three-part Wall Construction)

Fred Sandback
Untitled (Sculptural Study, Three-part Wall Construction)

1986-87/2007

Violet, green and gold acrylic yarn


Exhibitions

  1. Fred Sandback - past exhibition

    Fred Sandback

    18 September – 8 November 2013

  2. Fred Sandback: Constructions and Drawings - past exhibition

    Fred Sandback: Constructions and Drawings

    11 October – 19 November 1977

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