The Lucid

Ugo Rondinone

Ranging from installations and sculptures to psychedelic paintings and large-scale drawings, Ugo Rondinone’s eclectic practice explores the relationships between opposing forces—day and night, real and artificial, euphoria and depression. His most recognizable works are his colorful “Rocks” sculptures: vertically stacked rocks painted in fluorescent colors. Inspired by naturally occurring geological formations and the meditative art of rock balancing, Rondinone has built these large-scale artworks in public settings around Liverpool, Miami, and the Nevada desert. He has created smaller iterations for gallery exhibitions. Rondinone has also made bull’s-eye-shaped, neon-hued mandala paintings and cast-bronze sculptures. He has exhibited at the Contemporary Austin, the Art Institute of Chicago, The Bass, and Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2007, he represented Switzerland at the Venice Biennale. At auction, Rondinone’s work often sells for six figures.