Harry Bertoia’s Work Receives Recognition
**Rediscovered Legacy: Harry Bertoia’s Return to Detroit**
The revival of artistic works often follows a cyclical pattern, ebbing between periods of acclaim and obscurity. Such is the case with mid-century modern sculptor, designer, and sound artist Harry Bertoia, whose contributions to art and design are currently experiencing a renaissance in Detroit. With the recent resurfacing of a significant Bertoia sculpture thought lost, the Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bertoia’s alma mater, has planned a retrospective exhibition to celebrate ninety years since the artist’s arrival.
In 1970, Bertoia was commissioned by Detroit’s iconic department store, J.L. Hudson Company, to create an installation for the Genesee Valley mall in Flint, Michigan. The resulting 26-foot suspended sculpture was composed of two clusters of delicately welded steel-wire rods embellished with brass, bronze, and metal alloys. However, when the mall underwent renovations in 1980, the sculpture was transferred to Northland Mall in Southfield, Michigan, before ultimately vanishing from public view. Assumed lost after Northland’s demolition, it was discovered intact amidst debris in 2017, prompting the Southfield Arts Commission to acquire and commence its restoration.
General Motors, maintaining longstanding ties with Bertoia and the mid-century modern design movement, has taken steps to honor this legacy by installing the rediscovered piece at its new global headquarters, constructed within the footprint of the former Hudson’s building in downtown Detroit. Aligning with this, GM overcame significant architectural challenges to incorporate Bertoia’s work, further cementing their historical relationship with the artist.
Despite its inaccessible placement within GM’s employee-exclusive areas, interest in Bertoia’s oeuvre flourishes as Cranbrook Art Museum gears up for a comprehensive retrospective entitled “Harry Bertoia: A Homecoming,” scheduled to open in June 2027. Andrew Blauvelt, the museum’s director, recognizes this moment as opportune for revisiting Bertoia’s pioneering contributions to art and sound.
Bertoia’s tenure at Cranbrook from 1937, surrounded by influential figures like Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames, shaped his interdisciplinary approach to art, evident in his roles as a metalsmithing and printmaking instructor. The upcoming exhibit will feature over 100 Bertoia works, enriched by a recent donation of 10 sculptures, showcasing his diverse talents across media.
Detroit’s motto, signifying rebirth from adversity, resonates fittingly with Bertoia’s sculpture’s rediscovery. As Cranbrook Art Museum prepares to spotlight this visionary artist, his works, underscored by spiritual depth and interpretive openness, continue to inspire anew.