Sterling Ruby's Monument Stalagmite series is a fascinating exploration of form, material, and thematic depth that encapsulates the artist's broad and experimental approach to contemporary sculpture. The series includes towering sculptures that are created through a labor-intensive process, distinguishing Ruby's work for its unique material combinations and its engagement with themes of violence, institutional critique, and the transformational possibilities of craft and industrial materials. Pieces like Monument Stalagmite/The Shining feature dripped red dye that evokes blood, directly referencing iconic scenes from popular culture while imbuing the sculptures with a sense of looming threat or latent violence​ (ICA Boston)​.

Ruby's practice is characterized by a relentless experimentation with materials and forms, which is evident in the Monument Stalagmite series. The sculptures are often made by pouring urethane resin over structures of wood, PVC pipe, and expanding foam, a method that speaks to Ruby's interest in the process of making as much as the final form itself. This technique allows for the creation of forms that are both monumental in scale and intricate in detail, showcasing Ruby's ability to manipulate industrial materials into works that challenge and expand the boundaries of traditional sculpture​ (The Roberts Institute of Art)​​ (Sothebys.com)​.

These sculptures stand as a testament to Ruby's ongoing investigation into the role of the artist as an outsider and a critic of modernism and traditional institutions. By utilizing materials and processes that evoke both the natural and the industrial, Ruby's Monument Stalagmite series serves as a powerful commentary on the complexities of contemporary society, the coding of power and violence, and the potential for art to disrupt and interrogate established aesthetic and institutional norms​ (ICA Boston)​.