Recently I posted a picture on Probe around the Globe’s Instagram account of the Sphere within Sphere sculpture in Dublin. Before posting, I researched first. I knew this sculpture was made by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. I found a whole list of Sphere within a Sphere locations around the world. This triggered me to search a little further and I found amazing pictures of all the Sphere within a Sphere sculptures around the Globe!
When I first encountered the Sphere within Sphere Globe at the Vatican Museum, I was intrigued by its details. I love how it fits within one another. During my trip to Dublin, I was very giddy with the fact I found another one. When I daydream about my next trip, I envision myself embarking on a journey to visit and see every single one of the Sphere within Sphere sculptures around the globe! Wouldn’t it be great to visit them all?
For my own fun and because I want to share these amazing pieces of art with you, I put together a list with more info and amazing Instagram pictures from all the Sphere within Sphere sculptures around the world! Let me know what you think of them or if you have a picture of one which you’d like to share!
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Where to find the Sphere within Sphere Sculptures?
- Vatican Museum, Vatican City
- Trinity College, Dublin Ireland
- United Nations Plaza, New York, USA
- Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, USA
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gardens Washington D.C. USA
- Beach Front Pesaro, Italy
- Tehran Museum of Art, Tehran, Iran
- Hakone Open Air Museum, Tokyo, Japan
- Other works by Arnaldo Pomodoro
Sphere within Sphere at Vatican Museum, Vatican City
This was my first encounter with the sculpture of Sfera con Sfera. At the Cortile della Pigna courtyard of the Vatican Museum, you’ll find the most photographed Sphere within Sphere orbs. Also known as the “Vatican Sphere” it is probably the most photographed item in the Vatican’s courtyard. My dad was fascinated by the design too and he took some amazing images of the Vatican sphere.
Sphere within Sphere at Trinity College, Dublin Ireland
This Sphere within Sphere is the same age as me! From 1982, it was placed at Dublin’s Trinity College in front of the Berkeley Library. It measures 200 cm in diameter and you can find below my Instagram image.
Sphere within Sphere at United Nations Plaza, New York, USA
This bronze sculpture is from 1991 and measures 330 cm in diameter. I found this picture on Instagram with great reflections. Have you ever seen this one? New York just moved a little bit higher on my wanderlist!
The sphere in Sphere at Mt. Sinai Hospital New York, USA
New York is lucky for many reasons, but one of them is that they have 2 (yes two!) sphere within sphere bronze globes by Arnaldo Pomodoro. The one at Mt. Sinai Hospital is slightly bigger than the United Nations one (350 cm vs 330 cm). Below an impression.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gardens Washington D.C. USA
The Sphere within Sphere number 6 has a steady place at the Hirshhorn Museum in their Sculpture Garden. This bronze is from the 1960s.
Sfera con Sfera at Pesaro, Italy
Look at this epic beautiful location and sculpture in Pesaro (a little hamlet south of Rimini) in Italy. The Sphere within Sphere at Pesaro is a true landmark, overlooking the Adriatic sea.
Tehran Museum of Art, Tehran, Iran
There is even a Sphere within Sphere tucked in the gardens of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Iran. This was, unfortunately, one of the very few pictures I could find, but it seems the Spheres are taking over the entire globe (pun intended). Unfortunately, I had little time in Tehran, otherwise, I would have loved to add this to my list.
Sphere within Sphere at Hakone Open Air Museum, Tokyo, Japan
If we move across the globe further, we’ll end up in Asia, Japan to be more precise. Even in the land of the rising sun, these sphere within sphere bronze sculptures left their mark.
Other sculptures by Arnaldo Pomodoro
Ok, so the sphere within sphere sculptures around the globe have the same theme: orbs and globes. However, Arnaldo Pomodoro made a lot of other shapes and forms too.
I’m going to display a few, as there are so many! On my recent trip to Italy, I randomly stumbled upon a few works of art, just standing at roundabouts and public squares. The contrast between the pastel-colored Italian houses with the fiercely metal object not just standing in the public space, but becoming part of it, is a surprise that no image can prepare you for.
I strongly recommend to drive the extra mile or take a detour to see these.
More sculptures in Pisa, Italy
If Pisa wasn’t amazing enough, they now have this mesmerizing sphere at the Piazza di Miracoli. Unfortunately, when I was in Pisa last year, it was not yet displayed. This was a temporary display.
Milan, Italy
At the piazza Meda in Milan, you’ll find this disc. It is huge, measuring 450cm in diameter.
Torino, Italy
This Spirale Aparte, or odd spiral, is located in Torino. It seems the little works of art from the Italian artist are scattered across the country. This is indeed an odd form.
Rufino Tamayo Museum, Mexico City, Mexico
Across the globe from Iran, we’ll find this patinated bronze pillar. You might think it is located in Pisa, Italy, but it’s not. This work is also from Arnaldo Pomodoro and was created in 1969. It measures 70 cm in diameter but reaches 500 cm in height.
Los Angeles, USA
From the ’80s, this wing beat sculpture is sitting in the pound in front of the offices of the department of water and power. It brings across a powerful message sitting on top of the water, doesn’t it?
EUR- Piazzale Pier Luigi Nervi, Rome, Italy
On my recent trip to Italy, I was leaving Rome in rush hour. Slowly, I managed to maneuver my rental car on the expressway to EUR to drive to Cerveteri. As I was stuck in traffic, I managed to take a sneak peek of this wrought twisting cone-shaped sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro.
Spoleto, Italy
I had a vague address so I drove into Spoleto, dead set on finding the roundabout with the sculpture of Arnaldo Pomodoro. But as I was driving, clowns attacked my car as they were promoting the circus and traffic was really busy. It took me thee circles around the roundabout at the Via Nursina in Spoleto to snag a picture like this.
Terni, Italy
Finding the sculpture in Terni proved, even more, nerve-racking. I imagined to park the car somewhere and take a closer look but the traffic was insane. Beeping cars across 5 lanes, switching from right to left without a warning, people crossing the street, one-way directions, too many signs. I was happy to snap a quick shot at the roundabout at the Corso del Popolo in Terni, Italy.
Tivoli, Italy
As I walking the streets of Tivoli, looking for the Villa d’Esti (which for some reason, I could not find quickly), I stumbled upon the Piazza Garibaldi. Walking under an arch, I suddenly realized this too must be a sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro! It is such an exciting find that you recognize the master’s touch. This sculpture is a great one as you can walk underneath it, touch it, admire it and spans the square like an arch, which is a whole new feature.
Which Sphere within Sphere Sculpture have you seen?
There are so many more. If you start to google and look for more details, you come across pictures of spheres, discs, columns, and many more odd-shaped bronze art sculptures. Who joins me on a quest around the world to find them all? Do you feel your picture is missing from my list? Please let me know! In case you post your sphere within sphere picture on Instagram, don’t forget to use the hashtags #spherewithinsphere and #arnaldopomodoro
What do you think of these sculptures? Let me know!
This is exactly what I was looking for! I’m glad someone else is just as excited about these sculptures as I am! I just moved to New York and am going to try to see the UN one and the Mt Sinai one. There is one at the Guggenheim on display apparently, so I’m going to check that one out too. Also a cross at St Peter’s Church in Manhattan. Also, the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens in Purchase, New York seems to have a disk and some of the ones shaped like a pillar. So far I’ve seen the one at the Vatican, the one at Trinity College, and the disk in Charlotte, NC. I treid to see the one at the Virginia Museum of Art, but it wasn’t on display. Same with the one at the MOMA in NYC. Thanks so much for sharing this!!
Wikipedia lists many, but I have visited the Columbus Museum of Art and did not see a Sphere within a Sphere there. I have seen the one in Dublin (first). There are actually two in Rome…one at the Vatican, and the other in north Rome near Stadio Olimpico/Stadio dei Marmi at the Piazzale della Farnesina. I live in DC now and will visit the one at the Sculpture Garden, and will visit the one in Richmond about 100 miles away. I’m heading to NYC in a few weeks and will visit the one at UN headquarters and Mt. Sinai hospital. Unfortunately, I have been to both Indianapolis, Indiana and San Francisco, California in the past 15 months, but didn’t realize these sculptures were there. You can see on google maps (photos) there is one at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, and at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. Supposedly, there is another at UC Berkeley near San Francisco.
Good luck on your quest!
I know the feeling Mark. It was only after my return from Tehran when I realized I could have added another one to my list. Darn. On my recent trip to Italy, I found another 5 works by Arnaldo Pomodoro, they are just not spheric, but still exceptional. I hope you’ll find many more in the world!
I only saw the one at the UN in NYC.
However, about 40 minutes north of Manhattan, there are 2 sculptures located in the Donald M Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo. It is Pepsi World Headquarter and their garden is opened to the public on the weekend.
There is the “Grande Disco” which is a disc similar to the one in Milan and
“Triad” which is a bronze pillar.
I would like to the artists name age when he started, material used to build from where, how many man hours to complete each, price of each, how he showed his spheres for sale, who purchased the items, How transported, artists age now with pic, a little of his background and his lifestyle now, pic where he lives today?
All very good questions Lis but that is not what this post is about. Please check the Arnoldo Pomodorro institution who can provide you with some of the info.
Any idea where you can get a paper weight size replica? My daughter just saw the one at Trinity College in Dublin
Unfortunately I wouldn’t know. There was an exhibition not too long ago so maybe if it pops up again they make souvenir replicas too. I would love to have one of my own!
Interesting! I’ve seen the one at the Vatican Museum but I had no idea they were all over the world! I’ll be on the lookout next time I visit one of these places.
Wow, wat een bijzondere objecten! Nooit van gehoord voorheen.
I first saw the one at Hakone and fell in love with it. I was astonished to find one in the sculpture garden across from the Hirschorn Museum because I had been there many times and had never particularly noticed it. Then I saw the one at Trinity College in Dublin and have been on much the same quest as you ever since. It was not till I saw the one at the Vatican that I realized the sculptures open. In that instance, while I watched, our guide put her shoulder to the task and voila! (or whatever the word is in Italian). Next time I’m in NY, I’ll have to go by the UN. I didn’t realize they had one there.
Each one is more surprising then the next. I love how they can hide their unique character in plain sight Sheila! We have a great quest together!