Sterling Ruby Confronts Le Corbusier’s La Cité Radieuse

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Summary

  • Sterling Ruby showcases two landmark works that touch on materiality
  • The exhibition is on view through September 28

In Marseille, France, it’s hard to overlook Le Corbusier’s Radiant City (La Cité Radieuse), distinguished by its towering housing complex adorned with a vibrant mosaic of primary colors on the facade of 337 apartments. This 20th-century structure is not only a UNESCO World Heritage site, but also an impressive demonstration of brutalist architecture or “the house of madness” as locals sometimes call it. Perched atop this complex stands MaMo by Ora Ïto, a modern art center that showcases global artists’ works, with the current exhibition led by renowned American artist Sterling Ruby.

At MaMo, designed by Ora Ïto, Ruby has set up two notable pieces as part of a self-titled exhibition. The first, titled ‘DOUBLE CANDLE’ (from 2018), is an impressive bronze sculpture standing at seven meters tall. It boasts a green-blue patina and oxidized elements reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty’s aging exterior. The second piece, ‘WALL’ (from 2017), is Ora Ïto’s largest spray painting, stretching over seven meters wide and comprised of multiple layers, lines, and color drips. These works aim to stimulate conversations about the rich history and multi-layered identity of the UNESCO site in Marseille, a port city influenced by movement, memory, and reinvention on the Mediterranean coast.

In my perspective, while Le Corbusier’s color schemes were designed to evoke emotions, Ruby’s artworks challenge the structural aspects of architecture with his intensely tactile works that delve into material metamorphosis and the bond between humans and their surroundings. As a press release states, “The artist’s color sensibility echoes profoundly, as his patinas and atmospheres interact in a visual discourse with Le Corbusier’s color theory and the chromatic construction, where color is employed as a spatial and emotional instrument.

The display will be available up until September 28th. For further details, visit the website of MaMo by Ora Ïto.

MaMo by Ora Ïto
Centre d’art de la Cité Radieuse
280 Boulevard Michelet,
13008 Marseille 8ème
France

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2025-07-08 21:56