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Collage of five diverse artworks from the Hammer Museum Collections side by side. From left to right: 1) Contemporary painting of two embracing figures with surreal elements. 2) Post-impressionist style painting of trees with vibrant blues and greens. 3) Black and white illustration of a face with intricate patterns. 4) Japanese woodblock print style image of a figure in a checkered robe. 5) Photograph of a couple dancing, the woman in a black dress and the man in white

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Digital Archive Now Dig This!: Art and Black Los Angeles 1960–1980
Art Melvin Edwards, The Fourth Circle
The Fourth Circle, by Melvin Edwards, 1966

Melvin Edwards, Artist
The Fourth Circle , 1966

Medium
Painted steel
Dimensions
48 x 72 x 60 in. (121.9 x 182.9 x 152.4 cm)
Credit Line
Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Contemporary Art Council, New Talent Purchase Award. Photo by Tim Nighswander/IMAGING4ART, Courtesy of the artist and Alexander Gray Associates

The Fourth Circle is composed of repeating geometric shapes and one curvilinear abstract form that Edwards assembled by using the hammer-welding process and bolting together the steel components. Within the composition, three distinct circles are noticeable. The fourth circle alluded to in the title is the negative space that each circle encompasses. For the artist this space is as important as the positive forms of the steel circles.