Auto Tower, Industrial Forms (part B) c. 1922

John Storrs made this sculpture, Auto Tower, Industrial Forms (part B), with a clean, geometric approach. The neutral palette and sharp edges speak to the process of industrial design and manufacturing. There’s a real physicality to this object. Storrs uses simplified forms to create a powerful vertical presence. The matte surface absorbs light, emphasizing the shape and shadow. Look at the way he balances the cubic elements on one side with the fluid, almost art-deco lines on the other. The dark, curved line that runs the length of the sculpture is particularly striking. It suggests both movement and containment, a kind of visual paradox that keeps drawing me back. Storrs’s focus on abstraction and industrial themes connects him to other early 20th-century artists like Charles Sheeler, who were also exploring the aesthetics of the machine age. Ultimately, this tower is a testament to the idea that art can be found in the most unexpected places.