Regardless of the material or the techniques he employs, the sculptures of Albert Hettinger
radiate an unmistakable grace and meditative, Zen-like stillness. The artist’s experiences in
Japan plainly enriched his form-language, but its underlying aesthetic was present from the
very start of his career. Whether he works in basalt, granite or steel, the sense of balance
and harmony is constant, expressed in ground-hugging forms, in richly modulated reliefs, in
steles that seem to bridge earth and sky, or in installations that display an airy lightness. In
his most characteristic sculptures, Hettinger seems to peel away superfluous layers to reveal
the unexpected beauty concealed within. Often he leaves sections of the finished piece in a
raw state, revealing even the boreholes through which an ancient material was wrested from
the quarry. This primordial quality is both emphasized and complemented by the elegant,
mirror-like surfaces that adjoin.
Hettinger’s exquisitely crafted works comprise an oeuvre of great authority and of a beauty
at once touching and timeless.
David Galloway Critic / Curator 2016