After settling in Philadelphia in 1960, Robert Grosvenor exhibited a number of large geometric works in major Minimalist shows such as Primary Structures at the Jewish Museum, New York (1966) and Minimal Art at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague in 1968. He was also one of ten artists who founded the cooperative Park Place Gallery in New York City.
Works such as Untitled (1968–1970), Untitled (Yellow) (1966), and Tenerife (1966) abruptly change shape as the viewer moves around them, and were often constructed using boat building techniques and suspended from the ceiling to vibrantly interact with the enclosing space.
Later Developments
However, Grosvenor’s sculptural practice has not stayed slickly industrial in its finish, architecture-focussed, or non-referential. He has a tendency to cross art historical borders, and move in zigzagging directions.Some sculptures have consisted of simple elemental forms made of recycled concrete blocks, timber, plastic, steel, and corrugated iron. These include Untitled (2020), Untitled (1980–1981), Untitled (1991), and Untitled (1987–88).
Other sculptures are less fragmented, being organic, smooth, and unified, with soft round curves and bright colours, such as Untitled (2019).
Fast Planes, Boats, and Cars
Grosvenor has also made angular and flat hybrid vehicles that have futuristic science-fiction overtones merged with minimalism. See, for example, Aerocar (2014), Untitled (2014), 3 Wheeled Car (1969), and Untitled (2015–2017).
Sometimes he has installed small models of these vehicles on shelves attached to gallery walls, as seen in his self-titled solo exhibition at Karma gallery in 2020.
He also takes photographs for research purposes and sells them, although he does not consider them artworks.
