Stele
Will Robinson
1990s
Basalt
On loan from Gayle Severn
Where is it located in the garden?
Visitors Center
More about
Will Robinson
Washington-based sculptor known for his abstract stone sculptures.
BA in History from University of Washington and has since developed a distinctive style that blends historical influences with modern aesthetics.
Robinson is a contemporary sculptor known primarily for his monumental stone sculptures, particularly working with dense volcanic stones like basalt and other igneous rocks.
His work often explores abstracted human and architectural forms, invoking a sense of timelessness and archetype.
MORE ABOUT STELE
• The title "Stele" refers to upright stone slabs or pillars, often used historically as grave markers, monuments, or inscribed tablets. While the term "stele" traditionally refers to an ancient carved stone slab, Robinson's work echoes this form by using stacked, pillar-like stones to create monumental pieces that emphasize the natural properties of the rock.
• Robinson’s sculptures evoke this tradition but reinterpreted in a minimalist, abstract style.
• The basalt material provides a rich texture and deep black color, emphasizing weight, endurance, and the elemental nature of stone.
• The work may be characterized by clean lines, subtle surface treatment, and a meditative quality reflecting on human presence and memory.
ARTIST APPROACH
• Balance and weight: His sculptures frequently feature large, polished stones balancing atop or alongside rougher, uncarved stone bases. This creates an illusion of effortless elegance and defies the immense weight of the material.
• Contrasting textures: Robinson highlights the duality within the stone by integrating smooth, polished surfaces with the rough, raw textures of basalt and granite. He often encourages viewers to touch his work to experience this tactile duality.
• Nature-inspired forms: Taking inspiration from the Pacific Northwest, Robinson's sculptures often abstract elements from nature, such as the shape of a bird's wing, the fluke of a whale, or the movement of wind and water.
• Focus on the stone itself: Rather than imposing a narrative, Robinson's art is intended to celebrate the natural properties of the stone. His process of finding and carving local basalt and granite boulders is a journey of discovery to see what unique mineral properties and patterns each rock reveals.
• Modern interpretation of a historical form: While the term "stele" has a historical context (an ancient grave marker or commemorative monument), Robinson's work repurposes the essential form—a monumental, upright stone—for purely aesthetic and conceptual purposes, focusing on the interplay of shape, balance, and texture.
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
• St. Michael Medical Center, Silverdale, WA
• Swedish Medical Center, Issaquah, WA
• Las Vegas Cleveland Clinic designed by Frank Gehry, Las Vegas, NV
• Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Memorial Plaza, Bremerton, WA
• City of Bellevue Public Arts Collection (Bellevue Botanical Garden)
• Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA
• Olympic College