Three men stand talking inside an ornate, historic building with intricate patterned floors and detailed stone carvings, reminiscent of Milan Cathedral’s grandeur. One man gestures as the others smile, their conversation echoing tales from the Candoglia Quarry.

James Durham & Martin Foot Visit Candoglia Quarry and Milan Cathedral

Quarra Stone visited the historic Candoglia Quarry and Milan’s Duomo, tracing centuries of craftsmanship and cultural legacy. The experience reaffirmed our commitment to timeless stonework and inspired our ongoing dedication to the craft.
A tall, cylindrical black sculpture titled Identity Column by Germane Barnes stands on a concrete platform in a landscaped Miami garden near a modern building with large windows and trees.

Germane Barnes’ Identity Column Finds a Permanent Home in Miami

Quarra Stone helped bring Germane Barnes’ Identity Column to life—a powerful reinterpretation of the classical column through an African diasporic lens. Now installed at Magnus Brickell, the work blends cultural storytelling with architectural innovation.
In a Pietrasanta workshop, two people in work clothes measure and mark lines on a large white stone slab; one kneels while the other leans over, both focused on their task amid tools and materials—a true Mentorship Spotlight.

Mentorship Spotlight: Rachele Pierini Visits from Pietrasanta

​Last week, Quarra Stone welcomed Rachele Pierini, a master craftswoman from Pietrasanta, Italy, renowned for its rich marble artistry heritage. Her visit fostered a hands-on mentorship, bridging centuries of stoneworking tradition and enhancing our team’s skills. This collaboration underscores our commitment to preserving and evolving the timeless art of stone carving through meaningful partnerships.
A diverse group of fifteen people stand side by side in an industrial setting with rusty metal walls, showcasing elements of sustainable design. They pose for a photo, most smiling, with the wet ground reflecting their shared vision. Some have their hands in their pockets.

Iowa State Architecture Students Visit Quarra Stone for Sustainable Design Project

Quarra Stone recently hosted Iowa State architecture students for a hands-on sustainability project. Using reclaimed stone and innovative composites, the students will design and build a functional structure to support agricultural workers—showcasing real-world solutions for sustainable architecture.

An Exhibition Proposes Alternatives to Removing Contentious Statues

The Chazen Museum of Art in Wisconsin is presenting “re:mancipation,” a multifaceted effort to add context to a 130-year-old sculpture.

In 2020, as statues of Confederate generals and other contentious historical images were being taken down in many cities, Sanford Biggers, the acclaimed New York-based contemporary artist, and Amy Gilman, the director of the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, were watching with keen interest.
A textured, dark cylindrical sculpture by renowned citizen-sculptor Martin Puryear stands alone on a dimly lit floor, dramatic shadows cast by its form. The scene evokes the artistry celebrated in the NY Times, against a backdrop of vertical wooden panels.

NY Times: Radical Rethinking at Biennale: Africa and the Future Share Pride of Place

Venice Architecture Biennale: American architect Germane Barnes

Barnes’ entry also reflects some of this Biennale’s interest in resetting architectural practice according to a less restrictive and more global set of priorities. The centerpiece of his contribution is a solitary monolithic “Identity Column,” under a bright spotlight, made from a single rippling piece of black marble. The column, according to Barnes, “demands a reorientation of foundational principles” in architecture, “one that positions Africa and its descendants as a force to be acknowledged and revered.”
This monochromatic relief sculpture of a horse, reminiscent of Martin Puryears intricate style, is depicted in side profile. Detailed musculature and texture lend it a lifelike quality, capturing the essence of motion in its natural stride, echoing themes celebrated by Citizen-Sculptor reviews.

The Met Acquires Monumental Charles Ray Sculpture

New York — The Met announced today the acquisition of the monumental sculptural relief Two Horses(2019) by American artist Charles Ray (b. 1953). Two Horses is now on view at The Met in gallery 918 of the Lila Acheson Wallace Wing. The ten-by-fourteen-foot granite relief by the acclaimed artist portrays two horses in profile, one fully articulated and a second figure behind it that is partially seen, evoking a ghost-like presence. The Met also announced that it will present an exhibition of the artist’s work in late 2021. Click here to read full article. THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, Photo by PARI STAVE
An intricate outdoor architectural installation by Citizen-Sculptor Martin Puryear features a large, circular, web-like design with a dark central circle. The stunning structure is set against brick buildings and surrounded by lush greenery, drawing admirers like those mentioned in the NY Times.

NY Times: Martin Puryear, Citizen-Sculptor

On the eve of the Venice Biennale, the artist’s shaping hand frames a view of his troubled, and troubling, homeland

“This moment has caught me being as much a citizen as an artist,” said the sculptor Martin Puryear on an afternoon in his studio in New York’s Hudson River Valley early in April. In two days he would leave for Venice to begin installing a solo exhibition at the 58th Venice Biennale in which he will officially represent the United States. Rising to that responsibility can’t be easy in an American “moment” tense with divisive politics, resurgent racism, and gun violence. Yet anyone who has followed this artist’s 50-year career, knows he is more than up to the task.”
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