John Henry | Zach's Tower | 2007

Throughout John Henry’s career, he has pursued a rigorous formal thinking that links his 1960s Minimalism to the experiments of the Russian Constructivists of the early 20th century. His works balance delicate lines against sturdy trunks of steel, adding color as a way to stand out against the urban environments of the American landscape.

In Zach’s Tower, Henry balances delicate forms and buoyant lines against strong, leaden anchors. As with most three-dimensional sculpture, this piece evolves as the viewer walks around it. Henry’s work frames the geometries of our built environment, breaking down the outsize scale of skyscrapers and creating small vignettes. Henry’s work seems vibrant and expressionistic against 100 years of architectural history found in Milwaukee’s downtown, enlivening the solidity of buildings with the inventive visual experiments of the artist.