California artist Kelly Akashi has unveiled a compelling installation at the Whitney Biennial, a glass chimney structure that serves as a poignant reflection on the personal and collective trauma inflicted by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. This artwork, meticulously crafted from hundreds of hand-cast glass bricks, stands as a testament to resilience and the complex journey of rebuilding in the wake of immense loss.

Artist Kelly Akashi Transforms Tragedy into Art at the Whitney Biennial

In early 2025, the serene landscapes of Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Los Angeles were ravaged by wildfires, claiming tens of thousands of homes and leaving a scar on the community. Among those affected was Kelly Akashi, a celebrated artist who lost her 1926 residence and studio. From this deeply personal experience of destruction, Akashi drew inspiration for her latest work, "Monument (Altadena)," a profound glass sculpture featured in the prestigious 2026 Whitney Biennial exhibition. This monumental piece, weighing a remarkable 6,550 pounds (approximately 2,971 kilograms), comprises 821 individually hand-cast glass bricks. It was fabricated and assembled in her Hudson Valley studio, evoking the solitary chimneys that stood defiantly amidst the charred remains of homes. The artwork was strategically placed on a terrace of the Whitney Museum in New York City's vibrant Meatpacking District, offering visitors a stark reminder of the fires' destructive power and the enduring human spirit. Accompanying this striking chimney is "Inheritance (Distressed)," a relief replica of her grandmother's Corten steel dolly, another cherished family heirloom lost to the Eaton Fire, further emphasizing the theme of inherited memory and loss. Akashi's involvement in a local artistic collective dedicated to salvaging materials and aiding recovery efforts post-disaster underscores her deep commitment to her community. She explains that the glass bricks, while not a literal reconstruction, allowed her to explore the themes of weight and fragility, memory, and transformation through a different material language. The piece encourages viewers to contemplate how light passes through its form, unsettling the traditional solidity associated with a chimney and offering a new perspective on rebuilding.

Akashi's artistic endeavor provides a powerful lens through which to examine the themes of loss, memory, and the intricate process of healing. Her work challenges us to consider how we confront devastation, not just through physical rebuilding but also through emotional and artistic expression. The transparency of the glass, juxtaposed with the weighty history it represents, invites contemplation on the enduring nature of human spirit and the possibility of finding hope and new meaning amidst the ruins.