Ursula Von Rydingsvard
ABOUT THE ARITST
Ursula Von Rydingsvard is a contemporary sculptor known for her powerful, large-scale works that often draw from organic forms and personal history. She frequently uses cedar wood, cutting, stacking, and shaping it into textured, monumental structures that feel both ancient and alive. Her sculptures suggest natural landscapes, shelters, and vessels, reflecting themes of resilience, memory, and the human relationship to the environment. Von Rydingsvard’s process is intensely physical, involving repetitive carving that leaves distinctive marks across each surface. Though grounded in abstraction, her pieces carry emotional weight and invite viewers to consider how form and material can communicate lived experience. Over decades of work, she has become a significant figure in contemporary sculpture, recognized for her unique approach and deeply evocative installations.
PROJECTS:
ONA
New York City, NY - United States
ADDRESS:
9 Chapel St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
ACCESS:
Restricted: Private residence, access to the public is restricted
DISCRIPTION:
Ona in Brooklyn is a monumental wooden sculpture featuring layered, textured cedar forms. Its organic shapes and rich surface evoke natural landscapes, showcasing von Rydingsvard’s distinctive blend of raw materiality and powerful, tactile expression.
NOTES:
Ona sits underneath the cantilevered canopy for the Barclay's Arena designed by SHoP Architects, one of Brooklyn’s most recognizable buildings. If you want to see more work by the artist she has a piece on display at Storm King Art Center.
STORM KING ART CENTER
New Windsor, NY - United States
Ursula Von Rydingsvard has two works in the permanent collection on display at the Storm King Art Center, For Paul and Luba.
