This fall, Larry Bell’s renowned glass cubes have found a captivating new home in New York City’s Madison Square Park. In conjunction with this outdoor installation, a more intimate exhibition at the Judd Foundation in Soho presents Bell’s lesser-known works on canvas, thoughtfully organized by Flavin Judd at his father’s art foundation.
Bell’s creations, characterized by a politically conservative and almost corporate aesthetic, emanate a radiant elegance that is likely to resonate with his patrons and complement their expansive minimalist décors. While his works may be ideal for boardrooms and private galleries, they maintain a striking beauty; much like the art emerging from the Light and Space movement, Bell’s pieces symbolize the industrial prosperity of post-World War II America, evoking the broad landscapes and optimism of a thriving nation. Notably, one of the major installations in Madison Square Park is aptly named “Fourth of July in Venice Fog” (2018).
In situ, the artworks interact with their surroundings, collecting autumn leaves within the glass containers, while offering a tranquil escape from urban life. Conversely, the canvas works at the Judd Foundation employ the same chemical techniques as the glass sculptures, refracting the dynamic life of Soho beyond their glass confines.
Despite their modern allure, these pieces evoke nostalgia, serving as reminders from a previous era. Yet, they invite contemplation of the aesthetic values of the past and their relationship to contemporary society. Like many artists associated with Hauser & Wirth, Bell is contemplative about money, legacy, and the shared human experience—a preoccupation for those who have spent decades creating in solitude.
During a press preview, Bell expressed that he “never envisioned these pieces for outdoor display,” pointing out the personal significance of each sculpture’s dimensions, which resonate with his own physical attributes, from the reach of his arms to the height he can achieve in a jump. This connection imbues his work with a personal quality that is often absent from the Light and Space movement, transforming these installations into mirrors reflecting our own human experiences.
To explore the exhibitions further, you can view our video tour featuring a brief conversation with the artist:
Improvisations in the Park will be on display in Madison Square Park (between 23rd and 26th Streets, and Madison and Fifth Avenues in Manhattan) until March 15, 2026. The exhibition was originally curated by Brooke Kamin Rapaport and organized by Denise Markonish, Tom Reidy, and Tiera Ndlovu. Concurrently, Larry Bell: Irresponsible Iridescence remains on view at the Judd Foundation (101 Spring Street, Soho, Manhattan) until January 31, 2026, without a listed curator.
