On View
On viewObject number2011.51
Hoku (Untitled.2411)
Artist
Deborah Butterfield
(American, 1949-)
Date2001
Mediumbronze
DimensionsOverall: 37 × 43 × 11 in. (94 × 109.2 × 27.9 cm)
Credit LineAcquired through the generosity of an anonymous donor
Exhibition History"Copley to Kentridge: What's New in the Collection?," KIA (Sept.14 - Dec. 1, 2013).
"Lasting Legacy: A Collection for Kalamazoo," Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, Michigan (Sep. 6, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015).
"Unveiling American Genius," KIA Permanent Collection Exhibition, Traditional, Markin, Nay and Groos Galleries (March 1, 2021 - December 31, 2023).Label TextDid you assume this sculpture was made of wood? From a distance, it appears to be made of branches and twigs. However, upon closer inspection, you can see that the artist cast this piece in bronze.
Deborah Butterfield has a unique working process. First, she constructs a sculpture using sticks collected from her ranch. She then photographs the work from every angle. The wood sculpture is disassembled, each stick is cast in bronze, and then a patina is applied to give the appearance of wood. Finally, the finished work is reassembled. This process is long and arduous, often taking several years to complete depending on the size and complexity of the sculpture. For her early works, Butterfield did all this herself. Now she oversees the casting and reassembling with the assistance of other talented artists.
Butterfield‘s love of horses is reflected in her art. The artist readily admits that her horse sculptures are personifications of herself. What does this sculpture tell you about the artist?
