Oval with Points is a monumental abstract sculpture by British artist Henry Moore, created between 1968 and 1970. The work depicts a flattened oval ring in bronze, pierced by a large central hole whose inner edges feature two protruding points that almost touch, creating dramatic tension and suggesting energy in the space between them.
Moore drew inspiration for this piece from the curves and voids of an elephant skull he studied, translating those natural forms into an abstract, organic composition. The gap between the points was intentional and essential to Moore’s vision—he compared the anticipated connection to the charged energy of a spark plug, emphasizing both separation and imminent contact.
The sculpture’s largest version measures approximately 332–335 cm in height and was first installed at Princeton University in 1969–70, where it became a landmark of the campus and helped launch Princeton’s important public art collection