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Documented artwork / architectural sculpture

Black Vessel for a Saint

Theaster Gates

Credit as documented: Theaster Gates; architectural design assistance by Muller and Muller

Theaster Gates created Black Vessel for a Saint for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in 2017. The cylindrical structure provides a new home for a concrete St. Laurence salvaged when a Chicago church was demolished. The artist developed the architecture with Chicago firm Muller and Muller. Walker identifies the work as a commission and lists brick, granite, Cor-Ten steel and the statue's roofing membrane among its materials.

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Verified artwork image for Black Vessel for a Saint
Verified artwork imageImage: theastergates.com ↗© 2026 Theaster Gates (as credited at source)Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. (as credited at source)

At a glance

Year / version
2017
Materials
brick, granite, Cor-Ten steel, concrete statue with roofing membrane
Documented setting
outdoor
Dimensions
280 × 192 in., exterior dimension (Walker)
Dimensions apply to
Two exterior dimensions without axis labels; no footprint or height interpretation added.
Availability
Unconfirmed

Places & versions

Installation history

Historical presentations. A past installation does not establish the current location or suitability for a new site.

  1. 2017

    Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

    Site
    Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
    Commissioner
    Walker Art Center

    Installation details checked 2026-10-17.

    Installation source

Materials and construction

Gates describes industrial brick production as part of the project. His dialogue with Walker explains the tar coating as both a creative choice and preservation response for the weathered figure. The published exterior measurement does not label its two axes.

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