Balance

Kimberly Mayhorn’s Balance is a poised, larger than life abstract portrait that is autobiographical and architectural. The sculpture stands on tall, thin “legs” that hold up a mesh bodice that in turn frames and reflects the built environment across the river. Mayhorn’s towering form and gravel pier look towards the water and out over the distant architectural landscape.
The placement of the figure poses a delicate and calculated balancing act: its elevated platform supports and displays this “body” several feet in the air linking the public’s gaze to a form of gender objectification. And yet the choice of industrial materials and the reflection of the mammoth architecture nearby presents Balance as a confident and resilient form.