Simon Rodia’s Watts Towers rise from a residential Los Angeles block as a dense assembly of steel, mortar, glass, tile, shells, and found objects. Built over decades by one maker, they turn everyday materials into a monumental work of art.
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These towers were built by one person over a span of decades, using materials that could be carried, shaped, and fitted by hand.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Simon Rodia built the towers between 1921 and 1954.
- The complex includes seventeen major structures.
- Materials include steel, mortar, glass, tile, shells, and pottery.
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