Purdue’s public art collection grows with installation of Albert Paley sculpture
A bold new work of art is transforming the landscape outside Pao Hall. The Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance has acquired and installed Sylvan, a large-scale sculpture by internationally recognized artist Albert Paley, bringing color, movement and a new visual experience to one of the university’s growing outdoor art spaces.
Installed in early August, Sylvan completes the outdoor sculpture corridor in front of Pao Hall, joining three other significant works to create an evolving gallery experience in the heart of campus.
Created in 2009, Sylvan is formed and fabricated from weathering steel with a natural patina and polychromed finish. The acquisition marks Purdue’s second purchase of a work by Paley. The university acquired Envious Composure, created in 2013, in 2023. Both works were made possible through the generous support of the Lonsford Fund.
“The selection committee was drawn to the color of the sculpture,” said Cheryl Qian, interim head of the Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance. “The piece brings a more human dimension to a modern campus and reflects the importance of the arts and humanities at a university widely known for STEM. It provides a vibrant and thought-provoking presence that broadens the experience of the campus environment.”
With the addition of Sylvan, the outdoor sculpture corridor now guides visitors past four distinct works of art: Transformation by Faustino Gil Aizkorbe, Repose by Nina Hole, Brickhead Conversations by James Tyler and Sylvan by Albert Paley.
Plans for the area surrounding Sylvan include the addition of concrete seating and flowers, creating a space where students, faculty, staff and visitors can pause, gather and experience the artwork.
About Albert Paley
Albert Paley, born in 1944, was raised in Philadelphia and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. Originally recognized for his jewelry, Paley began creating large-scale, modernist architectural works in steel during the 1970s, earning international recognition for his distinctive approach to metal.
Known for bold forms, intricate metalwork and expressive compositions, Paley’s work transforms industrial materials into dynamic works of art. With the installation of Sylvan, Purdue continues to expand its collection of public art while creating new opportunities for the campus community to encounter art in unexpected places.
The Lonsford Collection
The installation continues the legacy of the Lonsford Collection, an ongoing series of permanent sculptures, paintings and other significant works of art acquired through the Lonsford Fund.
The fund was established through the generous gift of Florence H. Lonsford, a Purdue graduate and artist who sought “to support the acquisition of art objects in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts” at Purdue University.
Lonsford envisioned placing artworks in spaces where students could encounter them regularly and gain an understanding and appreciation of their beauty, meaning and significance. Today, the collection continues that vision by bringing significant works of art into the daily life and experience of the Purdue community.