Minoru Niizuma’s marble sculptures, such as Unknown (c.1986), are deeply concerned with temporality, impermanence, and iteration. Although marble is often used as a symbol of empire and longevity, Niizuma uses contrasting texture and form to anticipate and honor the effects of time. This distinguished his work from the smooth and “timeless” works of the Minimalist movement, which emphasized commercially available materials and fabrication. Niizuma’s work highlights how important the sense of touch is to sculpture, and how even the art objects we hope will outlive us are ultimately not immune to the passage of time.