‘Here, two cast iron bars (with grit-blast finish) transform along their lengths from square shaped at one end to circular in the centre to triangular at the opposite end. These are slipcased into two somewhat shorter tubes of the same changing shape. The two elements are then arranged in an X-configuration reminiscent of Nauman’s suspended sculptures with two crossed steel l-beams’ Citation from N. Benezra, Bruce Nauman: exhibition catalogue and catalogue raisonné, exh. cat., Minneapolis, Walker Art Center, 1994, p. 306.

Untitled (Crossbeams) is a sculpture by the American artist Bruce Nauman, that comprises two iron cast crossbeams creating a cross hovering over the floor.

Associated with the Conceptual art movement and considered a pioneer in the development of Post-Minimal, his work often embodies a condemnation of American society. While his artistic practice is characterised by its interdisciplinarity, sculpture remains a central element in Nauman's work. His work implementing different materials and techniques, addresses themes around the dichotomies of life/death, love/hate, pleasure/pain. Giving as much importance to the process used as to the message conveyed, Bruce Nauman questions the finality of his creations. Greater importance is thus given to the creative process, and as such challenging the spectator’s perception of the artwork. From his early works Bruce Nauman is interested in the raw and unfinished aspect of the material. An artistic vision that can be found in other artists such as Vito Acconci and Eva Hesse. The influential artist’s work has been included in the permanent collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Kunstmuseum in Basel, and many others. He has also participated in the 1977, 1985, 1987, 1991, and 1997 Whitney Biennales and in the Venice Biennale.