Hyperbolic Ellipsoid

One of two public art sculptures on 7th Street by Sam Sutton, who moonlighted in his spare times as an artist in between his work as an patent attorney. Erected in the early 1980s as the City of Phoenix attempted to bring more art and culture to the downtown area, "Hyperbolic Ellipsoid" was commissioned by developer Robert Zander for his new "Tanner Square" office complex. Additionally, Zander coordinated the trim around his building to match the sculpture's striking flaming red color. The concept of the 19ft tall installation takes inspiration from the double helix structure of a DNA molecule. Sutton purposely intended for the sculpture to captivate motorists attention as they pass through the downtown core. "You've got 56,400 cars a day going through that intersection. You don't get those kinds of numbers in a gallery," said Sutton, in an 1983 Arizona Republic article.

Source: https://dtphx.org/art/hyperbolic-ellipsoid