Dome

The twenty-eight 'Cubi' sculptures were the last series made by Smith before his death in 1965. They are composed of simple geometric shapes and relate, as the name suggests, to Cubist painting and sculpture. In 'Cubi XIX', and a number of related pieces, the forms on the cross beam are arranged rather like a still life, though elevated by the vertical beam. Smith intended the 'Cubi' works to be shown outside, so that the burnishing of the stainless steel would reflect changes in lighting conditions. The geometric forms were softened by this response to the environment as Smith anticipated in a note on a sketch: 'polished - like I feel if I make square clouds'.installation view, Photograph of David Smith's sculpture's Cubi XVIII (left), Cubi XVII (center) and Cubi XIX (right)