Tom Kundig Reflects on Lifelong Bond with Harold Balazs

Sometimes you luck out in life and meet a force of nature. I benefited tremendously from my family’s friendship with sculptor Harold Balazs. In my youth, he instilled in me a sense of courage and enthusiasm to embrace this lucky moment we have on earth. As a kid, I watched fantastic sculptures being fabricated at his shop in Mead, Washington. I witnessed his experiments with different mediums and materials, and how it all related to the culture and politics of our time. He said to me out of the blue, “If you want to see what art can be, look at hot rods.” He saw their craft as an incredible source of inspiration for his work, and that left a lasting impression.

Harold made this maquette near the end of his life. He was always making these small case studies, little models for larger pieces he might eventually build. This one is made of wood and painted completely white, which I’d never seen before. Usually, these were in black or color. This one seems suspended somewhere between being and not being. Whenever I see it, I think of Harold—his drive, his curiosity, his humor, his intensity. You can feel that even in this small, quiet sculpture. This little maquette sits in my Seattle studio, and every day, it reminds me of the importance of staying curious, pushing for the audacious, and keeping that spirit alive.

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2025 Winter issue in the section “In Focus.” Subscribe to the magazine.