Clothespin Sculpture

The Clothespin stands forty-five feet tall, a massive steel object shaped exactly like a household fastener. Claes Oldenburg designed this sculpture in nineteen seventy-six to mimic the common wooden pin found in millions of homes. While people often debate whether the structure depicts two lovers embracing, Oldenburg himself insisted it began as a simple observation of everyday objects. The artist painted the steel a matte black, letting the harsh geometric lines dominate the plaza, far removed from the laundry room floor.