Observations and Treatments on Metals Recovered from the Palisades Fire

Presentation authors: Jennifer Kim and Rio Lopez

Blogpost Summary by Shannon Trono, Graduate Intern at Getty Conservation Institute 2025-2026

Jennifer Kim and Rio Lopez presented two case studies examining the treatment of metal artworks recovered from homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire. Their presentation focused on how conservation decisions were shaped by material condition, health and safety considerations, and dialogue with owners and artists, resulting in approaches tailored to each object’s circumstances.

The first case study addressed Torso in Space, a cast bronze sculpture by Alexander Archipenko. Recovered from rubble, the sculpture was entirely encased in a thick black-and-white oxidized layer. As one of only a few items salvaged from the home, it carried significant emotional weight, and the owner requested that it be returned as closely as possible to its pre-fire appearance. Examination revealed that, despite extensive surface alteration, the underlying metal remained largely intact. Treatment emphasized aesthetic reintegration while acknowledging the object’s recent history. The oxidized layer was reduced in controlled phases using increasing concentrations of phosphoric acid, with a decision made not to remove it entirely. Following cleaning, the surface was chemically repatinated using cupric and ferric nitrates, followed by a sulfur-based layer and a final wax coating.

The second case involved a steel maquette for The Walkers by Wang Luyan, originally developed as the study model for a group of ten sculptures permanently installed at Whittier College in 2019. Constructed from welded sheet metal components, the maquette exhibited severe corrosion, delamination, deformation, and structural instability following fire exposure. In preparing the treatment, the team consulted the artist through the homeowner, whose friends helped establish contact.