Did you know there are Circus Acrobats performing right under the Ohio Union’s ceiling? The sculpture, named Circus Acrobats, is composed of two figures soaring above the Great Hall.  Circus Acrobats was created in 1988 by world famous artist George Segal and was cast in bronze before being painted white.  The work is a permanent gift to The Ohio State University from the George and Helen Segal Foundation.

The George and Helen Segal Foundation’s interest in Ohio State started at a 2013 exhibition where photographs of Segal at work were displayed.  The exhibition was of Donald Lokuta, an Ohio State alumnus who achieved his phD in 1975.

George didn’t know he wanted to be an artist at first but as he moved through life into adulthood, he found his true passion was in art.  (It’s never too late to find your passion, Buckeyes! Don’t rush it.) By 1958 he had begun experimenting in sculpture, and just two years later he had a one man show to his name featuring several of his works.  Segal’s most famous works are cast life-size figures that are set into just the right settings.  The placement of these figures plays a huge role into how the artwork is perceived and is part of why many of Segal’s works are so special.  This certainly holds true in the Ohio Union. Click the photo below if you wish to see photos of the installation process in the Ohio Union.

Workers install “Circus Acrobats”, a sculpture by world-renowned artist George Segal in the Great Hall of the Ohio Union at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015. (Sam Greene/Ohio State University Office of Student Life)

Circus Acrobats adds to an already impressive collection of artwork in the Ohio Union building.  If you’re like us and can’t get enough of the Ohio Union’s newest edition, we have the perfect deal for you.  Take your best photo of the Circus Acrobats and upload it to Instagram using the hashtag #OSUarts for a chance to win $10 BuckID cash.  The contest begins 1/26 and ends 2/1 with Student Life’s Dr. J selecting the winner.

We hope you enjoy the Instagram Photo Challenge and if you love the Ohio Union’s artwork, please tell us your favorite piece in the comments!