Sculptor Alan Saret, known for his ethereal wire sculptures and "Gang Drawings," died on May 26 in Brooklyn at age 81. His death was announced by the gallery Karma, which represented him. Saret created cloudlike organic forms from brass, copper, and steel wire, responding to Minimalism with a nature-attuned spirit. He studied under Robert Morris at Hunter College, assisted architect Paolo Soleri, and was included in Harald Szeemann's landmark 1969 exhibition "When Attitudes Become Form" at Kunsthalle Bern. After a rocky career that included a three-year stay in India and a decade-long hiatus from showing work, Karma secured representation of the artist in 2022, finally bringing him the notice he deserved.
Saret's death marks the loss of a key figure in Post-Minimalist sculpture whose innovative use of humble materials like chicken wire expanded the boundaries of form and process. His disinterest in the art market and preference for low-tech, low-cost approaches challenged conventional career paths, while his "Network Sculpture" and "Gang Drawings" offered visionary alternatives to mainstream art production. The belated recognition by Karma underscores ongoing efforts to reassess underappreciated artists from the 1960s and 1970s, making his legacy relevant to current conversations about art historical rediscovery and the value of process-based practice.