Donald Lipski’s work is characterized by inventive
combinations of found items and objects from everyday
life. His sculptures explore the notions of consumerism and
mass production that dominate American culture. Lipski
subverts the practical functionality and replicated
sameness of mass-produced objects, turning the mundane
into something beautiful. His two pieces for Goldblatt’s, one
constructed from bicycle handlebars, the other from nylon
stockings, reflect this building’s original function as the
headquarters of a leading Chicago department store. The
sculptures are also a personal tribute by the artist to his
parents. Lipski’s father ran a Chicago-based bicycle import
business and sold bicycles to Goldblatt’s, while his mother
once worked in the hosiery department, formerly located
on the second floor of this building.
