Broken Obelisk

Barnett Newman designed Broken Obelisk between 1963 and 1967, and it is most commonly interpreted as a symbol of peace and reconciliation. The inverted obelisk, balancing impossibly on its pointed tip, suggests a disruption of traditional power structures and ancient monuments. Several casts of the sculpture were later dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr.

The sculpture is composed of two massive geometric Cor-Ten steel forms. Cor-Ten steel was chosen because it develops a stable, rust-like appearance upon exposure to weather, eliminating the need for painting. The deep reddish-brown patina of the steel gives the 25-foot monument a sense of heavy permanence.

There are multiple casts of the monumental sculpture located around the world, with the most famous situated in the United States. One prominent installation sits in the reflecting pool in front of the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas. Other casts are located at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the University of Washington in Seattle.

The awe-inspiring aspect of the sculpture is that the heavy, inverted obelisk appears to balance solely on the very tip of a pyramid. In reality, the Cor-Ten steel forms are meticulously engineered and usually permanently welded or bolted at the apex. This visual illusion of precarious balancing creates a powerful tension in the artwork.