Gallery Hunt: Shape Up
Geometric shapes are regular and have names you recognize like circle, square, triangle, rectangle, and oval. Organic shapes are usually irregular, occur in nature, and don’t always have names. Explore the galleries and see how artists used different shapes!
Begin in the American Galleries on Level 2. Have fun!
1
This artist was inspired by the shapes found in skyscrapers.
What geometric shapes can you see?
2
Continue in the American Galleries to find this swirling landscape painting. This artist used shapes that are very different from the first work you saw. Are these shapes organic or geometric?
3
Make your way out of the American Galleries, toward the Ancient Galleries courtyard. This large Greek storage jar is covered in geometric and organic shapes! What do you think might have been stored in here?
4
Leave ancient Greece, go through Tapestry Hall, and enter the European Galleries. Be sure to bring your appetite! This artist’s still life includes lots of organic fruits and shapes. What familiar fruits do you see?
5
Travel through Evans Court to the African Galleries. This mighty cloth is full of geometric shapes that have specific meanings and is worn for special occasions. What do you wear for special occasions?
6
As you head into the Marble Hall, you can’t miss the large, colorful blocks bouncing along the walls! What is another word for block?
7
Go upstairs to the Art Deco Galleries to find this brightly colored, functional work of art. This artist combined lots of geometric-shaped pieces of glass to make this window. Name the largest shape.
8
Leave the Art Deco Galleries, cross the bridge, and go into the South Asian Galleries. This huge marble pavilion is bursting with organic and geometric shapes and was used for both work and play. What would you use it for?
Construction #5, 1958
Ralston Crawford, American (1906 - 1978)
Floyd D. & Anne C. Gottwald Fund & partial gift of Neelon Crawford
Mars in Orange and Green, 1935
Arthur Dove, American (1880–1946)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur S. Brinkley Jr.
Relief Pithos (Storage Container), ca. 675 BC
Greek (Cretan)
Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund
Still Life, 1640–50
Jan Davidsz de Heem, Dutch (1606–1684)
Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund
Man’s Wrapper (Kente Cloth), late 20th century
Akan culture (Ghana)
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
Wall Drawing #541, 1987
Sol LeWitt, American (1928–2007)
Sydney and Frances Lewis Endowment Fund
Window, 1912
Frank Lloyd Wright, American (1867–1959)
Gift of Sydney and Frances Lewis
Garden Pavilion, 19th century
Indian (Rajasthan)
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
