First Image Photo Credit: Owen Carter

Sator Cube

Corten Steel
104 × 86 × 86 inches
1,800 lbs.

The design for Sator Cube began with a simple question: What happens when solid forms are given equal importance to the space between them?

I have always enjoyed exploring geometry and the unexpected visual relationships that emerge when simple shapes are repeated. By connecting thirty-five individual cubes only at their corners, I was able to create a structure that appears substantial while remaining remarkably open. The sculpture constantly shifts between mass and transparency, encouraging the eye to move back and forth between the steel itself and the negative space it creates.

One of the aspects I find most rewarding is how dramatically the sculpture changes as you walk around it. Cubes that seem to align from one viewpoint separate from another. Openings appear and disappear, hidden connections reveal themselves, and the balance between solid and void is continually redefined. Although the geometry is fixed, the visual experience is constantly changing.

After the design was complete, a friend suggested the title Sator Cube. I immediately appreciated the connection to the ancient Sator Square, a five-word Latin palindrome celebrated for its symmetry and order. The title felt like a natural fit, particularly with the five framed openings visible from each side, even though the sculpture itself was conceived independently of the historical reference.

Fabricated from weathering steel, the sculpture continues to evolve as its protective patina develops over time. Installed in front of the City of Arlington's sub-courthouse, it establishes a quiet dialogue with the surrounding architecture, where geometry, light, and shadow become part of the composition.

A Personal Note

Many of my sculptures begin with a shape that captures my imagination. From there, I enjoy discovering where that idea leads and figuring out how to make it a reality. With Sator Cube, I was fascinated by the way simple geometric forms could create an ever-changing visual experience.

Main Image Photo Credit: Owen “O.K.” Carter