Throughout my childhood, I have been fascinated by stories based on mythology. From reading the Percy Jackson novel series to reading comics such as Thor: Ragnarök, I have familiarized myself with mythology from various cultures. This included Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, and other cultures that had a religion based on mythological stories. These stories have not only sparked an interest in myself, but have inspired artists for centuries to create various pieces of art. Both Architecture and Sculpture in particular have been inspired by the multitude of mythological tales in various cultures. This is why I ultimately chose to examine the history of these art forms for my STEAM festival project. I wanted to take a deep dive into the context surrounding these art forms and what their future can possibly be impacted by. So, I naturally leaned towards creating a Video Essay discussing these complex ideas surrounding architecture and sculpture. I aimed to convince my audience to take architecture and sculpture as serious art forms that have been culturally significant since the start of humanity.
Works Cited
“Architecture as an Instruction-Based Art.” Harvard Graduate School of Design, 23 July 2025, www.gsd.harvard.edu/exhibition/architecture-as-an- instruction-based-art/.
RISD,digitalcommons.risd.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1091&context=liberalarts_contempaesthetics. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
Davies, Stephen. (1994). Is Architecture Art?. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199202423.003.0010.
Cartwright, Mark. “Architecture in the Ancient World.” World History Encyclopedia, https://www.worldhistory.org#organization, 27 Aug. 2019, www.worldhistory.org/collection/56/architecture-in-the-ancient-world/.
“The Future of Design.” Chicago Architecture Center, www.architecture.org/online-resources/stories-of-chicago/the-future-of-design. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
“Explore by Architectural Style.” U.S. General Services Administration, www.gsa.gov/real-estate/historic-preservation/explore-historic-buildings/explore-by-architectural-style#colonialrevival. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
The Evolution of Zaha Hadid, Architect – Jstor Daily, daily.jstor.org/the-evolution-of-zaha-hadid-architect/. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
“Sculpture.” Smithsonian American Art Museum, americanart.si.edu/art/highlights/sculpture. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
Marquette University E-Publications@marquette, epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?params=/context/phil_fac/article/1062/&path_info=Toward_an_Understanding_of_Sculpture_as_Public_Art_redistilled.pdf. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
Eddy. “The Future of Sculpture: Combining Traditional Techniques with Modern Innovations.” RMCAD, 15 Apr. 2025, www.rmcad.edu/blog/the-future-of-sculpture-combining-traditional-techniques-with-modern-innovations/.
“Sculpture Techniques · V&A.” Victoria and Albert Museum, www.vam.ac.uk/articles/sculpture-techniques?srsltid=AfmBOoqJ5YWFAaZXapJxtXcGDfpuVkhdXILyTCbhbtvEcYLujCOaKe0m. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
Trentinella, Rosemarie. “Roman Portrait Sculpture: The Stylistic Cycle.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1 Oct. 2003, www.metmuseum.org/essays/roman-portrait-sculpture-the-stylistic-cycle.
Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania. “Cave Sculpture from the Karawari.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1 Oct. 2003, www.metmuseum.org/essays/cave-sculpture-from-the-karawari.
Butterfield, Deborah. “Monekana.” Smithsonian American Art Museum, americanart.si.edu/artwork/monekana-71406. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
“Anish Kapoor.” Phoenix Art Museum, 16 June 2020, phxart.org/artists/anish-kapoor/.
My project helped explore the impact of the arts on New Yorkers and their communities by introducing the cultural and historic importance of two distinct art forms. Both Architecture and sculpture can be found all around the city as there are thousands of buildings or cultural centers containing these forms of art. Regarding architecture in particular, an audience can figure out that New Yorkers live in art as they are constantly surrounded by buildings with unique designs. Sculptures can also be found all across New York City like the famous Statue of Liberty. This enormous sculpture signifies the freedom and prosperity hoped by the millions of people from all over the world when coming to America. For many New Yorkers seeing this piece of art for the first time was the common denominator in their stories about immigrating to America. Thus both architecture and sculpture in New York City are not only an expression of New York based artists, but a physical representation of the experiences that make the city a place where dreams could be realized.
