Art and About

Watch the largest sculpture in University of Texas history come to life

Nancy Rubins' "Monochrome for Austin."

Photo by Paul Bardagly

The newest art installation on the University of Texas at Austin campus is ready to wow those who encounter its imposing structure. Located at 24th Street and Speedway, Nancy Rubins' three-story "Monochrome for Austin" is the largest piece in UT Landmarks history.

Commissioned by Landmarks, which brings fine works of art to the main UT campus, "Monochrome for Austin" is also the first large-scale sculpture by a female artist for the collection. The monochromatic display, constructed over the span of nearly a month, features more than 60 recycled and repurposed aluminum canoes and small boats that seem to balance magically in mid-air.

Rubins has been engineering large-scale forms like this since the 1970s. And like all of her work, Rubins' latest awe-inspiring structure offers an organic contrast to surrounding architectural structures.

The piece will be officially unveiled to the public at a celebration on March 5, which will include an outdoor reception with live music, food and drinks. Before its unveiling, watch exclusive footage of the sculpture's construction, featured above.

New

Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Elisabet Ney Museum Austin

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

museums galleries history texas

Loading...