Arnoldus Gruter Waves Maquette – Cast Plaster, 11.5"

Compact sculptural maquette by Dutch-American artist Arnoldus “Arnold” Gruter, modeled after his iconic public sculpture Waves at Minnesota State University, Mankato. This cast plaster work features stacked, undulating red forms that reference wave motion and rhythmic progression—central themes in Gruter’s practice. The maquette rests on a black cylindrical base and mirrors the striking geometry and balance of the monumental steel original.

Provenance:
From the private collection of the Lashway family, personal friends of the artist. Acquired directly from Gruter during his time at Mankato State College. This piece is believed to be the original study model for the full-scale Waves installation.

Medium:
Cast plaster, painted red, with black-painted cylindrical base
Unmarked

Condition:
Good overall, with minor chips and evidence of touch-up to the painted surface. Some wear consistent with age; structurally stable and visually intact.

Dimensions:
11 1/2" H x 11 1/2" W x 5" D
Weight: 6 lbs 2.7 oz
Please Note: Soup for Scale in Photo

About the Artist:

Arnoldus “Arnold” Gruter (20th Century, Dutch-American)
Artist Biography & Reference Sheet

Arnoldus Gruter was a Dutch-born sculptor and printmaker who became an influential artistic figure in the American Midwest during the mid-to-late 20th century. Best known for his bold sculptural forms and stylized representations of the human figure, Gruter's work bridges symbolism, abstraction, and modernist aesthetics.

Gruter served as the artist-in-residence at Mankato State College (now Minnesota State University, Mankato), where he maintained a studio in the student union building and was actively involved in the campus art scene. His tenure there resulted in numerous personal connections and commissions, including the university’s most recognizable public artwork—Waves—a monumental red steel sculpture fabricated at Jones Metal Products and dedicated in memory of graduate student Jerry W. Berger.

Waves is a kinetic visual metaphor that reflects Gruter’s signature approach: exploring the interplay of movement and stillness, organic and geometric. “The sea is always there, there is no beginning and no end... so it’s the same thing as a university,” Gruter is quoted as saying about the piece.

Alongside his large-scale outdoor works, Gruter created smaller sculptural studies and limited-edition prints, many of which explore related themes through figurative abstraction. Series such as Venus in Reds and Seated Red Venus exemplify his interest in femininity, theatrical composition, and bold color. These works often feature sensuous, stylized torsos, frequently adorned with black boots or elaborate decorative elements.

A number of these pieces were retained by or gifted to Roy Lashway, then-director of the Mankato student union, and remained in the private collection of the Lashway family, close friends of the artist. This provenance is well documented and provides a direct connection to Gruter’s creative environment and professional circle during his most productive period.

Gruter’s legacy lives on through his public works, private collections, and the continued interest in his unique synthesis of modernist design and symbolic figuration.