Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980)

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

sculpture made from wrought iron fencing

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980)

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) [detail]

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

detail of a sculpture made from wrought iron fencing

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) [detail]

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) [detail]

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

detail of a sculpture made from wrought iron fencing

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) [detail]

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) [detail]

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

detail of a sculpture made from wrought iron fencing

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) [detail]

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980)

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

sculpture made from wrought iron fencing

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980)

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) [detail]

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

detail of a sculpture made from wrought iron fencing

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) [detail]

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) 

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

sculpture made from wrought iron fencing

Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) 

Originally installed in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft. (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft. (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in. (101.6 cm), side 50 in. (127 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Installing Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in (101.6 cm), side 50 in (127 cm)

Photograph: Mary Swift

Artwork © Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

installing a sculpture in an urban park

Installing Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in (101.6 cm), side 50 in (127 cm)

Photograph: Mary Swift

Artwork © Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Installing Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in (101.6 cm), side 50 in (127 cm)

Photograph: Mary Swift

Artwork © Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

installing a sculpture in an urban park

Installing Nancy Holt, Inside Out (1980) in President's Park, Washington, D.C., on the occasion of the International Sculpture Conference

Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in (101.6 cm), side 50 in (127 cm)

Photograph: Mary Swift

Artwork © Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

1977—1980

Inside Out

Nancy Holt
1980
Wrought iron with circling flower beds
Iron bar 3/4 in (1.9 cm) diameter; overall: height 14 ft (4.3 m), diameter 12 ft (3.7 m); hole diameters: top 40 in (101.6 cm), side 50 in (127 cm)
Collection Holt/Smithson Foundation
© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

In 1979, Nancy Holt was invited to create a temporary public sculpture for President's Park, Washington, D.C., as part of the 11th International Sculpture Conference, held in June 1980. Constructed from circular wrought-iron fencing elements associated with the design of public parks and gardens, Inside Out takes the form of a cylindrical structure that visitors could enter through openings aligned with the northwest and southeast compass points. Holt specified that the sculpture be encircled by flower beds planted with red geraniums, situating the work within its landscaped setting. A site-responsive sculpture, Inside Out can be re-sited in a  manicured urban park following her specifications. 

Related Info

1977—1980
a sculpture comprising two circles of fencing with wild flowers at the center
Wild Spot
Nancy Holt
1979–80
1977—1980

In 1979 Nancy Holt was invited to develop a sculpture for the campus of Wellesley College in Massachusetts, for an exhibition titled Sitework on show between May and August 1980, curated by Judy Fox. Wild Spot is almost hidden in the landscape in what Holt described as a “natural cove.” It comprises a pair of nested steel-fencing rings. The outer one can be entered, while the inner circle, which cannot be entered, holds native wild flowers.

1977—1980
pencil drawing for an outdoor sculpture
Drawings for "Inside Out"
Nancy Holt
1980
1977—1980

In developing her sculpture Inside Out (1980), Nancy Holt mapped out its structure in a series of drawings. She carefully noted its site, installation, materials, and the plantings that frame the wrought-iron structure. Holt’s site-responsive sculptures, such as this one, have the potential to be installed in alternative locations, and these works on paper provide clear instructions for how to do so.

See Also

an outdoor sculpture made of steel bars in a hemisphere
Annual Ring
Nancy Holt
1980–81
Originally commissioned for the Federal Building, Saginaw, Michigan; relocated in 2000 to Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Michigan