In 1960 the sculptor and musician De Maria moved from California to New York, where he transformed Conceptual theory into a Minimalist practice—an art form of system and order that explored the purity and severity of materials. Cage II combines cubic geometry and a stainless-steel structure— emblematic of Minimalism—with a lighthearted yet critical play on words characteristic of the work of Marcel Duchamp and the Dada tradition. The title of the sculpture refers to its material structure and function and also pays witty homage to Cage, who influenced De Maria and his contemporaries. Cage II is the second iteration of the 1961 wood sculpture Statue of John Cage. The arrangement of the steel bars resembles the bars on sheet music. Seven-feet high, Cage II captures the physical stature of the man—well known for his height—as well as the formidable measure of his impact on 20th-century art. As De Maria said in an interview:

"Later when I was to start reflecting the ideas of chance, I became less and less interested in Cage and less and less interested in his music. I never did like his music actually. But the ideas were always well stated. Then, when I made my Statue of John Cage, I think it was partly a recognition of the fact that Cage may have been caging a lot of people."