Arthur Ganson (b.1955) is an American kinetic sculptor known for his mechanical art demonstrations and Rube Goldberg-style machines that merge engineering with existential themes. His work has been exhibited in science museums and art galleries worldwide, captivating audiences with its whimsical yet philosophical nature.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Ganson earned a BFA from the University of New Hampshire (1978.) He began creating kinetic sculptures in 1977, exploring movement, mechanics, and artistic expression. His sculptures often feature intricate wire gears, delicate mechanisms, and surreal motion, evoking themes of time, change, and absurdity. His work has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, and Nova: Science Now.
Ganson served as an artist-in-residence at MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Department (1995–99,) where his work became a permanent exhibit at the MIT Museum. His pieces, such as Machine with Concrete and Thinking Chair, showcase complex gear reductions and poetic movement.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Arthur Ganson
Technology is very seductive, and it is certainly changing the way things are designed and made and taught. The problem is when technology has seduced you away from thinking about things as deeply as you should.
—Arthur Ganson
Topics: Technology
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