Abstract Free Form (1980–1981) marks a significant moment in Arturo Di Modica’s mature abstraction, created after he had firmly established himself within New York’s evolving art scene. Carved from Carrara marble, the sculpture stands at monumental scale, demonstrating Di Modica’s commitment to working directly with materials associated with classical sculpture while pursuing a wholly contemporary language. Its elongated, open structure reflects his interest in movement and spatial clarity, reducing form to essential lines and voids that guide the viewer’s eye through the work rather than around it.
The sculpture’s unique status underscores the intensity of its production, as carving marble at this scale requires both physical endurance and precise control. Di Modica’s handling of Carrara marble retains the integrity of the stone while introducing a sense of lift and direction, characteristic of his abstract work from this period. Abstract Free Form sits within the lineage of his early experimental sculptures but translates those ideas into a larger, more architectural presence, offering a clear example of the formal exploration that shaped his practice in the early 1980s.
