Massive yet realistic, small yet expressive, intricate yet elegant—just a few phrases that are used when viewing sculptural artworks, usually followed with expressions like, “I can’t believe someone made this,” or “the work that must have went into this…”
While the medium has, at times throughout history, played second fiddle to the “golden child” of painting, sculpture is a prominent fixture in history—tracing as far back as 32,000 BCE, and dominating the arts throughout ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Death of Cleopatra, carved 1876, marble, 63 x 31¼ x 46”. Gift of the Historical Society of Forest Park, Illinois, 1994.17., by Edmonia Lewis (1844-1907). Setting the stage and a high bar for the medium are masters like Michelangelo and Auguste Rodin, but so many others have contributed to the canon, including artists like Edmonia Lewis (1844-1907)—overcoming many obstacles as a Haitian American and Native American woman.
Found in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, are more than eight pieces by Lewis, “more than any other public collection,” says Karen Lemmey, the Lucy S. Rhame curator of sculpture at SAAM. “Lewis spent most of her professional life in Rome which had attracted expatriate sculptors from many countries all through the 19th century. [She] sometimes made copies of famous works from antiquity and the Renaissance, such as her bust Young Octavian and Michelangelo’s Moses.Such works were popular among art patrons on the Grand Tour of Europe.”
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Monekana, 2001, bronze, 96 x 129½ x 63½”. Gift of the American Art Forum, Mr. and Mrs. Frank O. Rushing, Shelby and Frederick Gans and museum purchase, 2002.3, © 2001, by Deborah Butterfield.Lemmey notes that Lewis’s most monumental and important work was The Death of Cleopatra, which she made expressly for the Centennial International Exhibition held in Philadelphia in 1876. “This singular example of this incredible portrayal of the ancient Egyptian queen was lost for a century before making its way into SAAM’s collection,” Lemmey adds. “Lewis was working at a time when Neoclassicism was a popular artistic style that favored classical, biblical or literary themes—thus Cleopatra was a common subject. Unlike her contemporaries who often depicted an idealized Cleopatra merely contemplating suicide, Lewis showed the queen’s death more realistically…”
Kathy Taslitz, Exposed, blackened bronze, 42 x 19 x 11”SAAM has quite the reputation for sculptural works of all kinds and is home to the largest collection of American sculpture. “[Our] unparalleled sculpture collection also includes work by contemporary artists, including Debra Butterfield,” says Lemmey. “She constructed Monekana from pieces of driftwood that she assembled into the shape of a life-sized horse. She then cast the assemblage into bronze and had it paginated to resemble sun-bleached, weather-beaten wood.”
Additional contemporary sculpture artists like Kathy Taslitz, explore themes of nature, technology and pop culture. As part of her What Lies Between series, we see works like Exposed,depicting a large leaf. “Mother nature often nurtures humanity while societal scrutiny can be destructive,” the artist explains of the series. “Standing strong requires courage, flexibility and perseverance, which can ultimately lead to self-realization and growth.”
Blue Rain Gallery, Spirit Woman, blown and sand carved glass, 21 x 15 x 15”, by Preston Singletary; Blue Rain Gallery, Between Darkness and First Light, blown, hand sculpted and engraved glass, steel, 50 x 25 x 20”, by Shelley Muzylowski Allen.
She continues, “We are a part of nature, so I gave this leaf a bit of a human form. Its open weave lace-like structure looks fragile, but it stands strong. It’s a testament to feminine strength and empowerment.”Continue reading to learn more about the art form from galleries that deal in sculpture and directly from the artists themselves.
Blue Rain Gallery, with locations in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Durango, Colorado, hosts an impressive display of sculptural artworks in a variety of mediums by prominent Native American and Indigenous artists. “Contemporary Native art reverberates with the echoes of tradition, blending ancestral voices with modern innovation,” says Merlinda Melendrez, Blue Rain's director of sales. For Tlingit artist Preston Singletary’s glass work Spirit Woman, the artist shares that “it ties into the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. In old Tlingit mythology, to be ‘transparent’ represents a spiritual being.”
Blue Rain Gallery, Prickle (China Rockfish), free-hand sculpted glass, 14 x 6 x 18”, by Raven Skyriver; Felicia, Resting, bronze, 5 x 13 x 5”
Raven Skyriver, another Tlingit artist, creates glass pieces inspired by the marine ecosystem, like Prickle (China Rockfish), “[Raven] began blowing glass at 16 under the guidance of mentor Lark Dalton, mastering the Venetian technique," explains Melendrez. "Based near the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington, Raven showcases his work nationally and internationally, drawing inspiration from his island upbringing and the marine life that inhabits his surroundings.”
Shelley Muzylowski Allen, is among the non-Native sculptors represented by Blue Rain Gallery. Featured here is her glass and steel sculpture Between Darkness and First Light.“Allen, initially a painter, found inspiration to explore glass art after a co-worker suggested its compatibility with her style,” says Melendrez. “Her artworks, featuring animals like horses and elephants, blend the strength and serenity of these creatures, often incorporating elements like rusted metals and hair.”
Jonathan Morgan, After the Fall, bronze, 20 x 10 x 10”
Born in the heart of Zimbabwe, Alex Chitura’s artwork emanates from a profound wellspring of inspiration, fueled by relentless dedication and finely tuned skills. A visionary artist with roots in welding and sculpting, Chitura’s journey from humble beginnings to a master carver is a testament to his unwavering commitment to his craft. He channels his creativity into breathtaking sculptural forms that have earned him global acclaim and transformed his studio into a beacon of creativity.
Working in stone and wood, Chitura depicts African wildlife, from life-size elephants to smaller works of tigers, panthers, giraffes, hippos and more. The artist’s work can be found in prestigious galleries worldwide.
Sculpture artist, known simply as Felicia, notes that her inspiration has always been people. “My intention is to echo the figure and have in mind a captivating creative vision of spiritual, simplistic, contemporary forms,” she says. Another goal for the artist is to show different textured surfaces, along with high polish areas finished with different innovated patinas.
Felicia has been working in bronze for over 30 years, and her pieces have found homes in many private collections and museums countrywide.
Clockwise from top left: Jonathan Morgan, Eclipse, bronze, 35 x 25 x 10”; Moana Ponder, Morning Mist, bronze, 15½ x 8 x 5” ; Moana Ponder, Endangered Earth/Earth Renewed, bronze, 14 x 6 x 4” ; Niman Fine Art, Butterfly, bronze, ed. of 6, 24 x 20½ x 6”, by Arlo Namingha.; Alex Chitura, Elephant Bull – Simba, red gum eucalyptus wood with an oak base, 100 x 50 x 65”
Jonathan Morgan’s art is about bringing awareness to the human condition. As a father to two special needs children, he believes that we often misinterpret the world because we rely too much on our eyes, neglecting the other senses. “This is particularly true in how we view and interpret art,” Morgan adds. “By relying too much on our eyes, we can miss the full sensory experience of what a work of art offers to the mind and the heart.”
Ultimately, his art explores themes of overcoming adversity, forces of nature and introspection on the heroes that hide amongst us. “The ultimate goal of creating such powerful pieces is to inspire and motivate viewers,” he says. “I challenge collectors to look beyond the beauty and instead embrace the deeper meaning.”
Niman Fine Art, Balance II, Indiana limestone, 12 x 5 x 5”, by Arlo Namingha.
The elegance and beauty Moana Ponder sees in nature is channeled into art that reflects the same grace and fluidity of movement. “I am also touched not only by the ability of the human body to express emotion with a gesture, but also by the emotions and spiritual qualities that generate those gestures,” she shares. “It is my hope that my work can communicate to others an experience similar to the pleasure I have had in creating it. For me, art is only successful when it communicates on a deeper level than just visual satisfaction.”
Charlotte Szynskie, Parachute Goddess, bronze, 20 x 22 x 22”
Ponder expertly navigates this deeper level in impressive bronze sculptures like Morning Mist and Endangered Earth/Earth Renewed—both of female busts that convey a sense of movement and elegance. Find her work at T.H. Brennen Galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona; Legends of the West Fine Art in Santa Fe, and Art Incorporated in San Antonio.
About her piece Parachute Goddess, Charlotte Szynskie says, "The inspiration came from my great-niece posing in a parachute skirt in New York’s Times Square. The photo of her was beautiful and the result, in bronze, is captivating.”
She continues, “The beauty, strength and fluidity of the human body intrigues me. I love being able to capture and share my perception of the human figure with my collectors. I get an idea in my mind, and I dwell on it until it comes out of my hands in clay. I have learned that buying art can be much the same thing. If you see a piece that captivates you and you just can’t get it out of your head, don’t hesitate and miss the opportunity to make it yours.”
Jonathan Morgan, Perception, bronze, 25 x 36 x 11”
Niman Fine Art, representing the Namingha family of artists, highlights strong sculptural examples by Arlo Namingha like Balance II, Ancestral Land and Butterfly. Working in various mediums such as stone, wood and bronze, Namingha primarily works as a sculptor, but also produces jewelry and prints. “My work has evolved into minimal designs inspired by architecture, and my cultural background of Tewa and Hopi, which is the foundation of my ideas,” Namingha says. “However, [my work] also relates to current events. My current body of work is based on the idea of interaction with myself and the viewer or collector. Using various techniques to develop works that can be disassembled and put in various compositions, thus creating a dialogue between myself and the viewer.”
Clockwise from top left: Niman Fine Art, Ancestral Land, jelutong, poplar and lace wood, 18½ x 10½ x 2½”, by Arlo Namingha; Victor Issa, Surfers, for bronze, life size; Victor Issa, Moses (front view), for bronze, 60 x 34 x 40” ; Victor Issa, Moses (left view), for bronze, 60 x 34 x 40”
In his over 40 years of sculpting, Victor Issa has had the privilege of working on a wide range of projects— from small single figure commissions and freelance work to major multi-figure, life-size and larger compositions. “The common denominator in all my work has been the human figure and the rich opportunities for expression, power and beauty it embodies,” Issa says. “When asked to name my favorite sculpture, my answer is usually ‘the one I’m working on now.’ Creating a new piece requires a full investment of time, emotions, thought, skill and all of that can be a greatly fulfilling experience.”
When collecting sculpture, Issa says, “In the end, art acquisition is about adding to one’s collection items that are likely to bring continuous joy and inspiration. That’s the best measure of investment that I know of.” —
Featured Artists & Galleries
Alex Chitura
Ramona, CA, (760) 440-6382
www.chitura.com
Blue Rain Gallery
544 S. Guadalupe Street Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 954-9902
934 Main Avenue, Unit B, Durango, CO 81301
(970) 232-2033
www.blueraingallery.com
Charlotte Szynskie
Denver, CO, (303) 898-5014
www.sculpturebycharlotte.com
Felicia
(303) 570-5534, feliciasculpt@aol.com
www.feliciasculpture.com
Jonathan Morgan
(801) 682-5810
www.jmorgansculpture.com
Kathy Taslitz
Woodland Hills, CA
(310) 933-4527
www.kathytaslitz.com
Moana Ponder
www.pondersculpture.com
Niman Fine Art
125 Lincoln Avenue, Suite #116
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 988-5091
nimanfineart@namingha.com
www.namingha.com
Smithsonian American Art Museum
750 9th Street, N.W., Suite 3100 Washington, D.C. 20001
(206) 633-7970, americanartinfo@si.edu
www.americanart.si.edu
Victor Issa
Brighton, CO,
(970) 227-3624
info@victorissa.com
www.victorissa.com
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