Portal Gates

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.

View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

Artist

Albert Paley, born Philadelphia, PA 1944

Exhibition Label

Paley was a highly successful jeweler in 1974 when he entered the Renwick Gallery's national competition to design decorative doors for its shop. Little did he know how winning the competition would transform his career. His Portal Gates instantly became an icon for the museum and led to numerous commissions, propelling his practice toward monumental architectural ironwork. Paley's metalwork pays homage to European art nouveau and American abstract expressionism.

Connections: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery, 2019

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Commissioned for the Renwick Gallery

Date

1974

Object number

1975.117.1A-B

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Decorative Arts

Crafts

Medium

steel, brass, copper, and bronze

Dimensions

90 3/4 x 72 x 4 in. (230.5 x 182.9 x 10.3 cm)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Renwick Gallery

Data Source

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Metadata Usage

Not determined

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7a40bcfb7-3369-4848-9225-271487146d0e

Record ID

saam_1975.117.1A-B