Vancouver Biennale artist Dennis Oppenheim dead at 72

American conceptual artist, sculptor, and photographer Dennis Oppenheim has died. He passed away unexpectedly in New York on Saturday (January 22).

Oppenheim contributed three pieces to Vancouver's outdoor "artscape" during his lifetime. A favourite of the Vancouver Biennale, he first contributed The Device to Root Out Evil during the 2005 to 2007 biennale. This sculpture is often referred to as the gravity-defying "upside-down church" and was installed in Harbour Green Park. In 2007, Oppenheim was awarded the Vancouver Biennale's first ever Sorel Etrog Lifetime Achievement Award.

Oppenheim will also be remembered for his popular piece Engagement, which features two larger-than-life "engagement" rings, one standing at 21 feet, the other at 27 feet. This installation was created during the same-sex marriage debates in Canada and was purchased by the Vancouver Biennale Legacy Foundation. This installation can be seen today by Sunset Beach.

The artist's final contribution to Vancouver was his 2009 to 2011 biennale piece entitled Arriving Home, which features a 10-foot multicoloured sculpture. The piece is currently located in the international arrivals terminal at the Vancouver International airport and will be auctioned off on April 30.