Ex Astris
Latin for “from the stars,” Ex Astris is a 14-foot, 1200-pound brass-plated sculpture by Louisville artist Tom Lear.
Work Overview
Installed in 1979 at the entrance of Centre College’s Norton Center for the Arts, the piece evokes themes of creativity, aspiration, and inspiration. Its sleek, abstract form draws the eye and serves as a symbolic gateway to the arts on campus.
Artist Biography
Tom Lear was a Louisville native metal artist and sculptor. He earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art from the University of Louisville and went on to earn a master of fine arts from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Lear has other notable installations at the KFC headquarters, the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, and the University of Louisville. He was a protégé of Centre College trustee and artist, Jane Morton Norton, for whom the Norton Center for the Arts is named.
Work Details
Artist: Tom Lear
Date: January 1978
Location: Outside of the Norton Center for the Arts
Medium: Brass-plated metal sculpture
Dimensions: 14 feet tall