Inge King
Sun ribbon, 1980–82
Inge King (1915-2016), one of Australia’s most significant sculptors, made a profound contribution to modern sculpture, particularly through her exploration of abstraction. Born in Berlin, King studied in Europe before emigrating to Australia in 1951. Drawing on her knowledge of European modernism and her training in traditional carving, she was instrumental in introducing avant-garde sculpture to Australia. In 1953, she co-founded the ‘Group of Four’ and later the ‘Centre Five,’ both dedicated to promoting contemporary sculpture. King's pivotal shift to assemblages of welded steel in the late 1950s marked the beginning of her iconic large-scale works. Notable pieces, such as Sun ribbon, 1980-82 (installed on Union Lawn in 1982), demonstrate her mastery of form and her ability to merge abstraction with symbolic references to nature and the cosmos. King's works often encourage public interaction, and her influence extended across both public and private commissions throughout Australia. Her legacy endures, not only in her monumental sculptures but also in the way she shaped Australian attitudes towards both modernism and public sculpture.
- Artist / Maker
- Inge King (1915—2016)
- Creation Date
- 1980—82
- Collection
- Sculpture in the Grounds and Buildings
- Subjects
- Art and design - sculpture
- Materials used
- black painted steel
- Dimensions
(H x W x D) - circle 1 circle 2 circle 3 concrete slab base 603 x 404 x 603 cm
- Credit line
- The University of Melbourne Art Collection. Gift of Mrs Eileen Fox in memory of her parents Ernest and Fannie Kaye, 1983
- Accession number
- 1982.0023.000.000
- Copyright
- © Inge King/Copyright Agency, 2025 Request Access