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Albert Paley, Portal Gates, 1974, steel, brass, copper, and bronze, 90 3⁄4 x 72 x 4 in. (230.5 x 182.9 x 10.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Commissioned for the Renwick Gallery, 1975.117.1A-B
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Artwork Details
- Title
- Portal Gates
- Artist
- Date
- 1974
- Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 90 3⁄4 x 72 x 4 in. (230.5 x 182.9 x 10.3 cm)
- Markings
- back of proper right gate stamped: 1974 ALBERT PALEY (written vertically)
- Credit Line
- Commissioned for the Renwick Gallery
- Mediums Description
- steel, brass, copper, and bronze
- Classifications
- Highlights
- Object Number
- 1975.117.1A-B
Artwork Description
Paley was a highly successful jeweler in 1974 when he entered the Renwick Gallery's national competition to design decorative doors for its shop. Little did he know how winning the competition would transform his career. His Portal Gates instantly became an icon for the museum and led to numerous commissions, propelling his practice toward monumental architectural ironwork. Paley's metalwork pays homage to European art nouveau and American abstract expressionism.
Connections: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery, 2019
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November 13, 2015–March 6, 2022
Connections is the Renwick Gallery’s dynamic ongoing permanent collection presentation, featuring more than 80 objects celebrating craft as a discipline and an approach to living differently in the modern world.