At the center of this circular shape, a knot of wrapped wires extends outward, eventually unraveling into spiky forms that look like the tips of pine needles. Despite using bronze wire, Ruth Asawa’s inspiration for this, and many of her works, came directly from nature—everything from spider webs and insect wings to plants and flowers. Using repeated, simple gestures to create larger, complex compositions, Asawa’s thin lines play off light and shadow, giving the impression of delicately drawing in space.