Burton, Scott

Walter Scott Burton III (June 23, 1939 – December 29, 1989) was an American artist and writer who primarily worked in sculpture and performance art. He was best known for his large-scale furniture sculptures in materials like granite and bronze, often made as public art. Born in Alabama, Burton moved as a child to Washington, D.C., and began studying under a series of notable painters while still in high school. After graduating from university in New York City, Burton began his career as a writer, primarily making works for the stage. He moved on to art criticism in the mid-1960s, working for the magazines ARTnews and Art in America as an editor and critic. At the end of the decade, Burton started making performance pieces, often focusing on the relationships between performers' bodies, and he quickly integrated furniture and sculptures into his performances. Sculpture, particularly sculptures that functioned as furniture objects, became his primary focus by the mid-late 1970s. His late career was defined by furniture sculptures and landscapes built as public art, including for public parks, plazas, and government spaces, as well as for corporate buildings.