Remembering Richard Hunt: Chicago's Iconic Sculptor and Equity Advocate

Richard Hunt, an iconic Chicago sculptor and lifelong advocate for equity, has passed away at the age of 88. Hunt, the first African American artist to receive a solo retrospective at New York's Museum of Modern Art, was known for his abstract, welded-metal sculptures that blended industrial-urban elements with natural forms. He created over 160 large-scale public works across the United States and was responsible for 35 pieces in the Chicago area. Hunt's sculptures drew inspiration from nature, African art, and various modern art movements, and often referenced African-American history and Greco-Roman mythology. His legacy includes the installation of his sculpture "Book Bird" at the Obama Presidential Center, which President Barack Obama described as an inspiration and enduring reminder of a remarkable man.