Wayne Sutton

Exploring interactions between humans and nature.

I create sculptural vessels and objects that reflect my environment—both natural and constructed. As a collector of patterns and proportions, my work is an abstracted extension of these visual ‘possessions’, combining organic and human-made forms. My work explores the  interactions between complex biomorphic shapes and clean, modern lines to reflect the tension between humans and the natural world. 

My previous work used non-ferrous metals, primarily silver, as a medium to explore abstracted natural forms. In this work, I sought to capture life and movement in a permanent form—to capture the dynamism of nature in implied or actual movements.

In my most recent work, I explore the resilience of life in more organic materials—primarily hardwood. By reacting to the grain of the wood and conversing with the material as I create, I seek to imbue new life into an organic, but static material. In thó Juniperus, I combine external gouging to reflect rot and the natural life-cycle of organic forms with traditional woodturning techniques to reveal and polish the wood grain within the bowl. The inorganic enclosure—digitally designed by Richard Elaver—protects the heart grain. This collaboration evokes the hope that humans have the capacity to serve and protect nature.

Biography. Wayne Sutton is a sculptor and craftsman. He combines traditional and non-traditional methods of working with metal and wood to create unique abstract forms. His work combines the complexity of organic shapes with clean, modern lines to create a visual discourse between natural and human forces. His current work is a study of form and material, reflecting his consideration of man’s impact on nature. 

Sutton completed a Bachelors degree from Texas Tech University in 1995 and a Masters in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1998. He lived for may years in the San Francisco Bay Area where he worked as an Art Conservator for museums, galleries, and private collectors, before pursuing a career in the tech industry. His work has been exhibited nationally, presented in publications, and is held in numerous private collections. Currently, he lives and works in British Columbia, Canada where he completes commissioned and original artwork as a studio artist.