Springs Artist Fitzhugh Karol Debuts Outdoor Sculpture Show at Duck Creek

The Arts Center at Duck Creek will present “Fitzhugh Karol: On the Grounds,” a site-specific outdoor exhibition of large-scale steel sculptures by Springs-based artist Fitzhugh Karol. The installation will be on view from Saturday, July 19, through December 14, and continues Duck Creek’s commitment to showcasing sculptural works that engage with the landscape and its history. An opening reception will be held Saturday, July 19, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Karol’s sculptures are arranged across the grounds in rhythmic dialogue with one another and their surroundings, blending abstract architectural forms with a sense of play, memory and movement. Monumental in scale yet rooted in modest origins, each piece begins as a slotted cardboard maquette, progressing through wood or metal models before being realized in steel. His improvisational process — often incorporating salvaged materials — reflects a quiet metaphor for connection and community, where every part contributes to a greater whole.

His evolving sculptural language has been shaped by a reverence for materials and a wide range of influences, including the elemental works of Isamu Noguchi and Alexander Calder, the expressive energy of Peter Voulkos and the quiet intensity of his mentor, Toshiko Takaezu. Karol also draws inspiration from time spent in nature, the intuitive structure of childhood play and the collaborative creativity of his own family, including his wife, artist and designer Lyndsay Caleo Karol.

Set against the rustic backdrop of Duck Creek’s 19th-century farmhouse and barn, the sculptures invite viewers to walk among them, discovering shifting perspectives and framed views of the natural environment. Many works incorporate open or negative spaces that integrate the surrounding landscape into the composition itself.

Karol lives and works in Springs. His sculptures have been exhibited in parks, museums and public spaces across the country, including Socrates Sculpture Park, the Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College, SCOPE Miami, Art on Paper, the Long Island Museum and LongHouse Reserve. His work is held in numerous public and private collections.

“Fitzhugh Karol: On the Grounds” will be on view daily from dawn to dusk during its run at the Arts Center at Duck Creek, 127 Squaw Road, East Hampton. More information is available at duckcreekarts.org.