Willem de Kooning, a pioneer of Abstract Expressionism, is best known for his moody, gestural paintings that flutter between figuration and abstraction. It wasn’t until he was 65 and already a celebrated artist that he began experimenting with sculpture, the least-known aspect of his oeuvre. While in Rome in 1969, de Kooning began making small clay sculptures, soon moving on to produce large-scale bronze works. Made by building-up layers of wet clay on wood and metal armatures, these sculptures echoed the dynamic energy that pervaded de Kooning’s painted figures.

Between 1969 and 1974, de Kooning created twenty-five sculptures, including “Clamdigger,” which will be offered at Christie’s next month.