Can a sculpture be a myth? Anish Kapoor builds voids that define our world.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Anish Kapoor creates massive, immersive installations that blur the line between architecture and art. From the iconic, mirror-finished Cloud Gate in Chicago to colossal steel structures in London, his work challenges our perception of space, light, and the void, turning public environments into sites of profound, contemplative, and sometimes controversial experience.

Born in Mumbai in 1954, Anish Kapoor moved to Britain in 1973 to pursue his artistic education. His early career in the 1980s was defined by monochromatic, pigment-heavy forms that seemed to emerge from the floor like icebergs. These works, often titled A Thousand Names, established his fascination with infinity and the symbolic power of simple, curved shapes. By the late 1980s, he began exploring the concept of the void, creating stone sculptures with apertures that played with dualities like matter and spirit or the conscious and unconscious.

Kapoor’s practice evolved into large-scale, site-specific installations that manipulate the viewer's physical environment. His 2006 sculpture Cloud Gate, a 110-ton polished stainless steel piece in Chicago, reflects and distorts the city skyline, while his 2012 ArcelorMittal Orbit in London stands as the tallest sculpture in the United Kingdom at 115 metres. These works often involve collaborations with engineers and architects, such as his work with Cecil Balmond on the Tees Valley Giants, a series of five massive public art pieces.

His work frequently pushes into the boundaries of architecture and performance. In 2011, he filled the Grand Palais in Paris with Leviathan, a massive, immersive structure designed to create a contemplative space within a space. Other projects, such as his 2008 Memory in Berlin and New York, utilize materials like Cor-Ten steel to evoke rust and decay. Kapoor’s influence extends beyond the gallery, with his art appearing in public spaces globally, from the fjords of Norway to the subway stations of Naples, Italy.

Beyond his sculptures, Kapoor is a vocal advocate for social causes, including the rights of refugees. His 2017 Genesis Prize recognized both his artistic innovation and his long-standing advocacy. He continues to expand his institutional footprint, notably through the Anish Kapoor Foundation, which is converting the historic Palazzo Priuli Manfrin in Venice into an exhibition venue and repository for his work. Whether through red wax installations or mirror-like steel, Kapoor remains committed to creating objects that function as ideas, aiming to occupy territory in the collective imagination.

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