Ariel, 1984

Inspired by its description as “Lioness of God” in ancient Jewish and Christian mysticism, Ariel is the first sculpture Raimondi created in aluminum and his first mobile. Ariel was said to be a winged, yet flightless creature that simply hovered at the left hand of God. Commissioned for a large atrium by a Jewish developer in Cleveland, Raimondi was led to study texts that explore Hebrew mysticism, where he became fascinated by the portrayals of Ariel.