Sculptures that move! Most frequently powered by gravity, wind, or direct interaction with people (motors are frowned upon, but have been used.) Kinetic sculptures are frequently hanging mobiles though they may be mounted on pedestals, to a wall, or free roving sculptures (designed to be rolled along a beach dune, or gallery floor in a fascinating manner.) Kinetic sculptures in their purest form have no representational subject matter. They are modernist forms whose beauty is seen through the way they interact through space and over time. Kinetic sculpture was pioneered by the constructivists, Russian artists who were extremely concerned with time, space and communism.

Matthew Brand’s artificial artist at MIT is the latest development in kinetic sculpture. He uses a AI to design fabulous new mobiles that toy with our notions of balance and gravity.