Tuf-Cal, hemp, iron rebar

Thomas Houseago's sculpture, crafted from Tuf-Cal, hemp, and iron rebar, exemplifies his mastery of bridging the traditional and the contemporary through raw, tactile materiality. The work channels the muscular energy of Rodin and the fractured planes of Picasso while remaining distinctly of its own moment, forged with a rough-hewn yet sophisticated hand. Through this unconventional combination of industrial and organic materials, Houseago asserts a bold new vision for figurative sculpture that is at once primal and deeply considered.

Medium: Widely praised for his deft interpretations of the complex interplay of two and three dimensionality combined with a forceful confrontation of the touchstones of Modernism, Thomas Houseago has set forth a bold and startling new vision for figurative sculpture. Recalling the muscular energy of Rodin, the fractured planes of Picasso, the attenuated forms of Giacometti, and the “truth to materials” ethos of Henry Moore, Houseago imbues each work with a particular dynamism that is inherently contemporary and yet born of the traditional. Forged in a rough-hewn, yet sophisticated manner, Houseago excels in every material in his repertoire, from plaster to wood and metals.
Spotted At: Auction House · Phillips

🔨 Auction Lot

Contemporary Art Day Sale

May 16, 2014