Glass Labyrinth

Kansas City native and pioneer in Minimalism, Robert Morris was commissioned to create this interactive work for the 25th anniversary of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. Installed in 2014, Glass Labyrinth is a 62-foot long glass-walled, triangle labyrinth that allows visitors to experience the artwork from both inside and out. The walls are composed of 1-inch thick glass that is capped in a bronze rail, weighing in at 400 tons and resting on a base made of blue stone pavers. As a true labyrinth, a single continuous path leads to the center, in which the explorer must turn around and return to the starting point to exit. Throughout his career, Morris created art that allowed viewers to question, explore, and have a relationship with his work.

One of many labyrinths created by acclaimed American artist Robert Morris, Glass Labyrinth was the first to be permanently installed in the United States. Morris first worked with the idea of a labyrinth in 1961 when he created an 8-foot high, curved passageway, later describing it as a key work of “the body being in a space; exploring a space, having a relationship to a space.” He went on to say that it was “not necessarily one that you perceived the whole of, it was something you explored with your body.” The Glass Labyrinth’s months-long installation was completed on May 22, 2014 and continues to provide an interactive experience for visitors of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. 

With a single continuous path to the center and one way in and out, Glass Labyrinth is a true labyrinth. While the path doesn’t provide the visitor a choice in direction, it allows each individual to have a personal experience with the work. The 1-inch thick glass was hand-picked for its durability and clarity, which creates an illusion of deception as one can see completely through the 7-foot tall walls, though confined. The work was also created to be viewed from above, which gives a different perspective and dynamic than up close. Morris explains, “There’s so much going, but from a distance it’s just glass … You don’t seem to process so much until you get close to it, and then all these things start going on.” 

A team of both local and national architects and engineers prepared the 1,250 square foot site for installation and more than 80 individuals helped to construct Glass Labyrinth. The work was made possible through the generosity of the Hall Family Foundation. 

Gallery Label Description

This sculpture is a true labyrinth with one single path. Visitors walk from the entrance to the center and must retrace their steps to the exit. Labyrinths are found throughout history—in prehistoric cave drawings, ancient Greek mythology and in the stone floors of French cathedrals to guide meditative walking.

Contemporary in form and material, Glass Labyrinth was created by Kansas City native and acclaimed artist Robert Morris. As you move through its potentially disorienting environment, we invite you to consider: is your experience a metaphor for negotiating the uncertainties of our time?

Robert Morris (1931-2018) was a central figure in Minimalism, Process Art, and Earthworks sculpture, and was also a performance artist, writer, and painter. Early in his career, Morris choreographed numerous works for the Judson Dance Theater in New York and wrote a master thesis on Brancusi, as well as other critical essays. Interestingly, his first minimalist works were props for dance sets. Throughout his career, Morris used a variety of mediums and techniques for his work, starting with industrial materials and geometric shapes while sculpting in Minimalism, then moving to softer materials where he challenged ordinary objects to experiment with Process Art. That transitioned into using unconventional materials for indoor installations and later started creating monumental outdoor Earthworks. Some of Morris’s work has ironically been criticized for its theatricality, however, his legacy lives on through the engagement of his pieces and their viewers. 

Glass Labyrinth, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Accessed September 22nd, 2022. https://art.nelson-atkins.org/objects/59976/glass-labyrinth.

Robert Morris, The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation. Accessed September 22nd, 2022. https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/artist/robert-morris.

Glass-Walled Labyrinth / Robert Morris, June 9th, 2014. Accessed September 22nd, 2022. https://www.archdaily.com/513363/glass-walled-labyrinth-robert-morris.

In Conversation: Julián and Robert Morris. Kansas City, Missouri. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAAjqIQxyKM.

Robert Morris Talk in Atkins Auditorium. Kansas City, Missouri. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JXFY8PM0d4.

Glass-Walled Labyrinth to be Installed in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. March 11th, 2014. Accessed September 22nd, 2022. https://www.nelson-atkins.org/glass-labyrinth/.