Horace Farlowe (American, 1933-2006), 10 Ft. Commissioned Marble Fountain Sculpture

Circa 1999, carved Georgia marble, an impressive abstract (9) part form commissioned by Exploris Museum (now Marbles Kids Museum), presently stored in a local offsite facility. Included with the Lot is a plasterwork and wood maquette made by the artist.

Approximate assembled dimensions 9' 8" x 7' 9" x 10' 6" (116 x 93 x 126 in.)

Being sold to benefit Marbles Access Programs

Horace L. Farlowe was born in the small town of Robbins, North Carolina in 1933. After serving in the Marines in the 1950s, Farlowe decided to study architecture at North Carolina State University School of Design (NC State) in Raleigh. While he was there, he was encouraged by Roy Gussow, who studied with László Moholy-Nagy and Alexander Archipenko, to pursue his growing artistic interests. In 1961, Farlowe transferred from NC State to Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, North Carolina to study with Russell Arnold, student of the prominent German painter Hans Hofmann. Farlowe continued his studies at East Carolina College (East Carolina University) in Greenville, North Carolina. He earned a master’s degree from there, just a year later, with a focus on sculpture. Farlowe’s art reflects his interest in the work of Henry Moore and Constantin Brancusi, and the progression of his work led to the use of softer and more organic abstract forms. At times, these different forms were stacked and assembled with the help of stainless steel pins, and in a seemingly unprompted manner. In his later works, Farlowe began introducing pigments onto the surfaces.

Farlowe also completed many large-scale pieces during his lifetime. The first of these include a twelve-foot-high corten steel sculpture called Walk Through (1975) for a site in Greensboro, NC, and a fourteen-foot-high concrete water fountain (1977) for the campus of NC State. He also created Zoological Egg Rest for the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina; Letter "A" Bench for the City of Asheboro, North Carolina; Window Stone for the Cumberland County Public Library in Fayetteville, North Carolina; Barcelona Bench for the Complex Esportiu Municipal Julio Méndez in Barcelona, Spain; among many others.

Farlowe taught at various institutions in North Carolina, Colorado, Arkansas, and Georgia, before accepting a full-time position at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens. He stayed for 20 years, developing the sculpture program there into one of the strongest in the country, and eventually earning Professor Emeritus. While teaching at UGA, Farlowe also traveled six times with the Cortona Studies Abroad program, carving from sun up to sun down alongside his students.

Some surface staining and minor scuffing; a few minor edge chips; no longer retaining tubing or pump assembly (sculpture only); sculpture resting in 9 individual sections for transport.
Maquette with some areas of loss.

Please Note: This lot is located offsite in Greensboro, North Carolina. Interested buyers may contact info@lelandlittle.com to arrange a preview. Buyers are responsible for arranging collection no later than November 14, 2025 and must coordinate pick up with the LLA front office.

It is the buyer's responsibility, at their own cost, to secure an adequately insured, qualified external contractor for transportation of this lot. This lot is subject to a loading fee, at the buyer’s expense. For details regarding the load-out fee, please contact info@lelandlittle.com. LLA assumes no liability for any damage, injury, or costs associated with removal or transport. Failure to collect the lot within the designated period will result in forfeiture without refund. Please contact LLA in advance of bidding with any questions.