Chicago’s Picasso

In 1967, American Bridge fabricated and erected Chicago’s Picasso, a 50-foot-high, 162-ton sculpture to the design of Pablo Picasso. Before construction began, a 12-foot-tall wooden model was made for the approval of Picasso before American Bridge began fabricating the final steel sculpture. Shortly after being test fit at the American Bridge plant, the new structure was taken apart and transferred to Chicago where it can be found in the Plaza at the Chicago Civic Center. Picasso refused payment for his work and donated the piece to the city of Chicago. Despite designing the structure, Picasso himself never got to see his project in real life.