At 87, Robert Irwin perfects art of 'pure feeling' The work of 87-year-old postwar American artist Robert Irwin goes on display at Washington's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden starting Thursday. The exhibit includes 29 works created from 1958 to 1971, a period during which Irwin progressively stripped his works of references to the natural world to focus instead on creating experiences for the public. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES