Medium: Steel, painted black Dimensions: 10 ½ × 18 × 21 ½ in. (26.7 × 45.7 × 54.6 cm) Provenance: Mary Smith Crecca, gift of the artist to his sister, private collection Fabrication: Unknown, 1966 Reserve: $250,000 This unique piece comes directly from the Smith family lineage.
A Rare Opportunity to Acquire a unique piece by Tony Smith
Retroactv is honored to present this unique version of New Piece (1966) — a masterful minimalist sculpture by Tony Smith, one of the most influential figures in 20th-century American art. This is not the large-scale work permanently installed on Princeton University’s campus, but rather a unique early piece, offering a rare chance to own a direct connection to Smith’s studio practice and creative process.
Fabricated in painted black steel, New Piece embodies Smith’s rigorous exploration of geometry, space, and perception. Its deceptively simple form — a trapezoidal solid balanced in spatial tension — reflects the artist’s fascination with the intersection of architecture, mathematics, and the sublime.
This piece comes directly from the Smith family lineage. Tony Smith was the great uncle of Marissa Thomson, whose family safeguarded many of his works throughout her upbringing. New Piece was originally given by Tony Smith to his sister, Mary Smith Crecca—Marissa’s grandmother—and later passed to Mary’s son, Gerry, who has maintained the piece with care ever since. With this deep personal connection to the artist and his legacy, the family is now offering the work through Retroactv, providing collectors a rare opportunity to acquire a unique Tony Smith piece with impeccable, family-held provenance. See Marissa's interview below to hear more of the story.
Tony Smith: Architect of Modern Minimalism
Born in 1912, Tony Smith was an architect, theorist, and sculptor whose work bridged the intellectual rigor of design and the emotional power of pure form. Before turning to sculpture in the 1960s, Smith worked with Frank Lloyd Wright, an experience that deeply informed his structural sensibilities. His geometric steel sculptures would later become touchstones of Minimalism, influencing generations of artists including Donald Judd, Richard Serra, and Robert Morris.
Smith’s works are held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. His legacy lies not only in his monumental works but also in his visionary approach to art as a lived, spatial experience — an approach that continues to resonate deeply within contemporary culture.
Cultural Significance: From Modernism to Music History
New Piece gained renewed cultural attention due to its connection with the band Phish, whose early performances and storytelling mythos in “Gamehendge” were inspired in part by “The Rhombus,” the nickname given by fans to the full-scale version of this sculpture on Princeton’s campus.
In recognition of this shared spirit, a portion of proceeds from this auction will be donated to The Divided Sky Foundation — a nonprofit founded by Phish’s Trey Anastasio that supports recovery and mental health initiatives.
This auction and the work offered are not affiliated with, authorized by, endorsed by, or in any way associated with the band Phish or any of its members. Any references to Phish relate solely to the sculpture’s well-documented place in cultural history and fan discourse.
A Collector’s Piece of Profound Significance
This unique, early version of New Piece stands as a museum-quality artifact — both an embodiment of Smith’s architectural purity and a touchstone of American modern art.
Whether displayed in a private collection or an institutional setting, it commands presence and contemplation. For collectors of Modern and Minimalist art, as well as admirers of Phish’s cultural lineage, this work bridges two worlds of creative expression — art and music — that continue to shape contemporary consciousness.
With a reserve of $250,000, this auction presents an opportunity to acquire an extraordinary piece of art history: a work that is at once intimate in scale, monumental in concept, and profoundly emblematic of artistic innovation.
Freight within the continental U.S. is included in the auction price.
All sales are final. The winning bid on this item constitutes a binding agreement to purchase. No refunds, returns, exchanges, cancellations, or modifications will be accepted for any reason once the auction has concluded. Bidders are responsible for reviewing all available information prior to participating. By placing a bid, you acknowledge and agree to these terms. Winning bidder will be contacted by Retroactv to confirm details and sent a payment link to complete the transaction. Winning bidder may remain anonymous if they so choose.
Disclaimer: When we use the term "artist proof", we are referring to a small-scale, early version of a work created during the initial stages of development. These pieces are produced prior to the final, production-sized works and serve as exploratory or formative iterations rather than finalized editions.
