Overview
George Rickey is best known for what he called his “useless machines.” Carefully crafted kinetic sculptures made of reflective stainless steel, these graceful, precisely calibrated sculptures move with the wind at unpredictable intervals, calling attention to the effects of wind, light, and the changing surroundings.
Born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1907, Rickey was the son of an engineer with a degree from MIT and the grandson of a clockmaker. Both encouraged Rickey’s early interest in engineering and tinkering, which he largely abandoned to pursue the study of art and work as a painter.