Sandy Williams

The Johnson Atelier worked closely with artist Sandy Williams IV on the development of his piece The Wax Monuments, a sculptural installation that references the Lincoln Memorial staircase as its departure point. The artist’s desire was to create a replica of the Lincoln Memorial stairs, the massive staircase leading up to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Throughout the design process, we collaborated with the artist to create a miniaturized version that still conveyed the grandeur of the steps leading to this important monument.

Ultimately, we worked together to determine the correct size and created a double-sided staircase, allowing Sandy to place his precast candles on both sides and create a fully immersive experience for the viewer. The work was made from EPS and coated with a urethane hard coat material to mimic the original granite stones of the stairs. Two concrete urns anchor the staircase and replicate the originals in DC. The entire piece was then painted and textured to achieve a realistic stone finish.

Williams placed multiple miniature wax replicas of various monuments from around the globe on the staircase. The artist explores the idea of a monument’s permanence by creating them as wax candles, which he lights periodically throughout the exhibition. The work is on view until September 2025, and there are various activations where the artist lights the candles, allowing them to deteriorate over time.