Artist Charlie Kaplan’s monumental work Soaring, 2018, made of Bianco Puro Carrara marble, now graces the entrance to Baruch College’s William and Anita Newman Library for the enjoyment of the campus community.

At an installation ceremony on October 15, the Los Angeles-based artist spoke of his enthusiasm to place one of his art works on permanent display at Baruch, and how he hopes the sculpture will provide inspiration, especially to students.

“I could not be more pleased to have one of my pieces at an institution like Baruch than any place I could think of,” explained Kaplan. “The idea that this College has more social mobility than any other institution of its kind in the country is just the kind of place I would want one of my pieces to be.”

Charlie Kaplan: Bring Art into Your Life

For more than 40 years, Kaplan worked in his family’s business. Through his business career, he pursued a “growing passion to make sculpture, first in wood, then metal, before finding his true calling in carving stone,” according to his website.

In an interview at the installation, Kaplan expressed hope that Soaring, 2018 will move Baruch students to pursue a lifelong interest in art, and perhaps even as a career or hobby.

“I truly feel that this artwork can help inspire students to realize that a college education is more than just a degree,” said Kaplan. “I am hoping having a piece that they could look at and study can encourage them there are other journeys as well.”

In September 2018, Kaplan had his first New York institutional solo exhibition— Pleasing Curves: Sculpture by Charlie Kaplan—at Baruch College’s Mishkin Gallery. Learn more about the Mishkin Gallery exhibition and the artist’s distinctive approach to working with stone.

Text is reprinted from the Baruch College News Announcement