Internationally renowned Argentinian artist Tomás Saraceno will be on-site to dedicate his newest installation Crux Australis 68.00, the first work by the acclaimed artist to be on permanent, public view in Houston, Texas. Rice University President Reginald DesRoches will also make remarks commemorating this ambitious addition to the Rice Public Art collection.

The polyhedral sculpture—taking its name from the constellation with the highest concentration of bright stars—vertically spans multiple stories in Rice University’s newly opened O’Connor building (designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill). Comprised of ten shapes arranged in three clusters of interconnected polyhedrons inspired by the Weaire-Phelan structure, this work reflects the artist's decades-long research into the molecular, environmental, and metaphorical aspects of natural shapes like bubbles, clouds, spider webs, and honeycombs. Suspended in mid-air and covered with mirrored surfaces, the sculpture also reflects the surroundings of the O’Connor building—the ambient natural light, scholars engaged in research, and students deep in study. Emblematic of Rice University’s bright future and cross-departmental, collaborative history, Crux Australis 68.00 signifies the multi-disciplinary conversations central to the University’s pedagogy and critical to improving life on our planet.

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