A Celebration of Philadelphia Artists: New Works on View

Massachusetts-born Robert Engman (1927-2018) is best known for creating structural sculptures where he contorts various metals into unique, geometric shapes. He realized his passion for sculpture at Yale University’s graduate school, where he worked under his mentor Josef Albers (1888-1976). Albers, who was an influential abstract painter and theorist, was a source of both inspiration and education for Engman. Engman continued to experiment with abstract shapes and metal throughout his life, saying that a sculpture “answers one question and then asks the next question.”  He eventually settled in Philadelphia and founded the sculpture program at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught sculpting techniques to his students that also inspired his own working process. Engman most commonly made use of bronze, aluminum, and steel to create his sculptures, while also venturing into working with acrylic plastic. He is well known in the Philadelphia area for creating Triune (1975), a bronze sculpture of interlocked circles that sits outside of Philadelphia’s City Hall. Later in his life, Engman also made a foray into sculpting precious metals and jewelry. He continued creating art until his death in 2018.

This exhibition was curated by Ava Crosby ‘26. 

Featuring artists primarily from Philadelphia, this exhibition highlights various interpretations of landscapes. Artists include: Emily Brown, Diane Burko, Nanette Aker Clark, Neysa Grassi, Elizabeth Osborne, and Georgia O'Keefe.