Featured Artist Martin Pierce

Artist Martin Pierce creates larger-than-life bronze fantasy sculpture. See more of his captivating portfolio by visiting his website.

 

bronze sculpture of a grasshopper by Martin Pierce

“Grasshopper on Mushroom with Small Man” (side view) bronze limited edition, 10″ x 9″ x 14″

 

I do not recall a time when I was not obsessed with nature.

As a young boy I was a poor student, preferring to look out of the classroom window at birds and squirrels than at books. Thankfully, my basic education did include a woodworking class where I learned simple carving techniques and began to think and draw three-dimensionally.

 

bronze grasshopper sculpture by Martin Pierce

“Grasshopper on Mushroom with Small Man” (front view) bronze limited edition, 10″ x 9″ x 14″

 

When I was 16, my father, realizing my talents were more practical than academic, helped me find a position as an apprentice woodcarver at a furniture restoration company. This was my only formal training, but it taught me to be an efficient sculptor.

 

bronze apple and hornet sculpture by Martin Pierce

“Hornet on Apple” (left side view) bronze limited edition, 13″ x 10″ x 13″

 

Sharing my father’s sense of independence, at age 21 I started my own business sculpting innumerable owls, squirrels and other critters commissioned by local patrons.

 

bronze sculpture of an apple and hornet by Martin Pierce

“Hornet on Apple” (right side view) bronze limited edition, 13″ x 10″ x 13″

 

I met my future wife, Anne, when I was 23 and we travelled to Sussex in southern England where she attended university. The move south was pivotal as it introduced me to a variety of artists, academics and one etymologist.

 

bronze Stag Beetle sculpture by Martin Pierce

“Stag Beetle” (side view) bronze limited edition, 20″ x 15″ x 6″

 

I also began reading fiction and was immersed in the fantasy writings and alternative worlds as seen through the eyes of monsters, hut dwellers and seagulls in books like “Grendell” by John Gardner, the “Titus Groan” trilogy by Mervyn Peake and “Johnathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach.

 

bronze Stag Beetle sculpture by Martin Pierce

“Stag Beetle” (front view) bronze limited edition, 20″ x 15″ x 6″

 

All of these influences aided in the growth of my imagination. I began sculpting abstract themes and insects, the latter portrayed as larger than life to better show their beautiful mechanical elements and texture. These sculptures formed part of an exhibition at the Portal Gallery, London, a gallery known for embracing artists who lacked formal training.

 

stainless steel Stag Beetle sculpture by Martin Pierce

“Stag Beetle” limited edition stainless steel, 20″ x 15″ x 6″

 

In order to grow as an artist during the 1980’s, one needed connections and education to open doors. Finding this stifling, Anne and I moved to Los Angeles. At first, we began focusing on creating four different furniture collections which incorporated textured plants formed in gesso and small bronze plants for use as cabinet handles.

 

mixed alloy Stag Beetle sculpture by Martin Pierce

“Stag Beetles Fighting on Bark” (side view) mixed alloy limited edition, Stag Beetle – 20″ x 15″ x 6″/ Bark – 36″ x 16″ x 12″

 

In 1999 I entered the casting world and began designing and casting functional art (also known as door hardware) in silicon, bronze and stainless steel. While my eclectic door hardware continues to occupy much of my creative time, it has allowed me to dig deep into lost wax casting. As I now make my own molds and produce wax replicas, I have greater flexibility to make changes to a piece up to the final stage when it is shelled and cast.

 

bronze bird sculpture by Martin Pierce

“Jay Bird” (side view) bronze limited edition, 17″ x 12″ x 4″

 

The end result is a collection of sculptures on an evolving journey into a fictional world of insects and insectivorous humans with the occasional bird acting as observer and judge. These fantasy creatures exist in a world of distorted mangroves, tree bark and mushrooms where texture and contrast are central.

 

bronze hornet sculpture by Martin Pierce

“Wasp with Rider” bronze limited edition, 11″ x 8″ x 6″

 

I like to group these pieces together to tell a story, and am currently sculpting a collection for an insect race where a raven will judge the finalists. As this is a work in progress, I expect the characters and story will take many twists and turns.

 

Artist Martin Pierce invites you to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

 

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Comments

  1. Your delightfully whimsical sculptures are amazing. “Grasshopper on Mushroom with Small Man” piece flips natures script. Attention to detail makes these sculptures live. Beautiful works.

    Looking forward to your “Insect Race.”

    • Thank you Dee for your wonderful comments and I have to admit I am looking forward to developing the pieces and story of the Insect Race.
      Martin

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