Sears wants to buy back sculpture in Willis Tower lobby, lawsuit says
By APTuesday, October 5, 2010
Sears wants to buy back Willis Tower sculpture
CHICAGO — Sears may have moved out of its tower in downtown Chicago, but the company now wants to buy back a motorized sculpture in the building’s lobby.
The brightly colored art installation, “The Universe,” was created by Alexander Calder. It was unveiled at what was then the Sears Tower in October 1974.
Sears moved out of the building in the 1990s. The company told the tower’s new owners in July that it wants to buy the sculpture at half its appraised value, which it says is allowed under a 1994 deal.
The tower’s new owners have filed a lawsuit asking a judge to block the purchase.
George Collins, an attorney for the new owners, tells the Chicago Tribune the sculpture is part of the building.
The building was renamed the Willis Tower in 2009.
