The University of Iowa campus has been widely recognized for both the quality of its art on campus and its architecture. The campus is now a little more beautiful thanks to a new sculpture that has been installed at the Tippie College of Business. “Natural Pearl” by British sculptor Nigel Hall can be found in the courtyard of the Pappajohn Business Building (PBB) at the University of Iowa.
The dedication of this sculpture and the appearance of renowned sculptor Nigel Hall has presented the University of Iowa with a unique opportunity to introduce the campus and the community to the artist’s work through a public talk with the artist and an exhibition of other work by Hall in key locations.
A formal dedication for “Natural Pearl” will take place Friday, September 23, 2022 at 3 p.m. in the PBB courtyard. University personnel including University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson will provide brief remarks. After the dedication, Lauren Lessing, the director of the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, will conduct a conversation with the artist in front of a live audience at 3:30 p.m. in room W401 of PBB. A reception will follow on the fourth floor of the Biz Hub at the college.
Several small sculptures by Hall will be on display across campus for approximately one month this fall. They will be located in the Office for International Programs (1111 University Capitol Centre); the Art Library of Art Building West; and the Undergraduate Program Office (C140) and the Dean’s Office (C120) of the Pappajohn Business Building. Six framed sketches by the artist will be on display in the Bandag Reading Room of the Pappajohn Business Building’s 4th Floor BizHub. The temporary exhibition will run from September 19 - November 30, 2022.
“Natural Pearl” is made of corten steel and is 79.1 x 79.1 x 15.4 inches and appeared at the Art Basel international art fair in 2018. The purchase of “Natural Pearl” was generously funded by Tippie Dean Emeritus Gary Fethke and Emeritus Professor Carol Fethke, who also donated the sculpture “Gravity/Levity” by the same artist to the University of Iowa College of Nursing in 2019.
Hall was born in Bristol, England and resides in London. He received degrees from the West of England College of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. He is an award-winning artist that has had many fellowships and honors, in addition to taking part in over one hundred solo exhibitions worldwide since the 1960s. His pieces are collected across the world, including museums and private collections in Japan, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, France, England, and the United States.
“Natural Pearl” adds to the rich tradition of public art in Iowa City, both as art on the University of Iowa campus and art in the downtown area, which now boasts more than a dozen murals.
Hall’s appearance is sponsored by the Tippie College of Business’ Bowen Lecture Series and is in partnership with the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History, University Libraries, International Programs, the Iowa College of Nursing, and the Stanley Museum of Art. The public as well as all members of the community are invited to attend the dedication events.
MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Snee, 319-384-0010 (o); 319-541-8434 (c); tom-snee@uiowa.edu