
Go-Devil Sled
1976 · Wood, resin, canvas, and wax
10' 3 3/4" x 9' 9 1/4" x 9" (314.3 x 297.8 x 22.9 cm)
Museum of Modern Art

Salvatore Scarpitta created relief constructions and three-dimensional objects that fused postwar abstraction with found materials and industrial surfaces. Working from the 1950s onward, he assembled canvas, wood, metal, and tape into layered, gestural compositions that emphasized material tactility and weathered finishes. His practice resisted pure formalism through a sustained engagement with the physical properties of discarded and reclaimed elements, treating surface degradation as a formal and conceptual resource rather than a limitation.
Source: Marianne Boesky · Trust score: 100% · Updated 1mo ago