ArcelorMittal Orbit
2012
Standing 115 meters tall, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is a striking red steel sculpture that spirals dramatically upward at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Designed by renowned sculptor Anish Kapoor and completed in 2012, this monumental observation tower combines industrial materials with fluid, organic forms that seem to defy gravity. The latticed red steel framework wraps around multiple viewing platforms connected by a helical structure, creating a dynamic silhouette against the sky. Blending contemporary art with functional architecture, the work has become an iconic symbol of the Olympic legacy and demonstrates how large-scale sculpture can transform public space. Its distinctive form invites viewers to both contemplate its sculptural beauty and ascend within it to experience sweeping views of London. Photo by Stephanie LeBlanc on Unsplash
- Medium
- Steel sculpture and observation tower
- Spotted At
- Venue · Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Collectors with works by Anish Kapoor
Artists in conversation
Richard Serra
American · b. 1938
Serra similarly created monumental steel sculptures that envelop the viewer in immersive spatial and psychological experiences. Both artists share an interest in how large scale abstract forms can provoke a sense of awe and disorientation.
Ólafur Elíasson
Danish-Icelandic · b. 1967
Eliasson works with light, reflection, and large scale installation to create immersive environments that heighten perceptual awareness, closely paralleling Kapoor's explorations of the sublime and viewer engagement. Both artists use reflective and luminous materials to blur boundaries between object and space.
James Turrell
American · b. 1943
Turrell's investigations into light, perception, and the void resonate deeply with Kapoor's central themes of negative space and the ineffable. Both artists craft environments that dissolve material certainty and invite contemplative, almost spiritual experiences.
Start the Discussion
Request access to join the discussion