Carl Andre

American sculptor
American, b. born 1935
American minimalist sculptor whose early work was influenced by Constantin Brancusi, but changed dramatically after he worked on the railway for several years. Andre studied at the Phillips Academy and Kenyon College. In the late 1950s, Andre began creating sculptures, using commercially available materials such as timber, styrofoam, cement blocks, and hay. In addition to being an artist, Andre wrote poetry and was a conductor for the Pennsylvania Railroad. After 1965, his sculptures consisted mainly of 'floor pieces,' consisting of individual units of industrial materials placed directly on the floor in patterns that were inherent to the size and shape of the units themselves. In the 1970s, Andre created many large-scale installations and currently continues to emphasize placement, environment, and materials in his art.