Please DO Touch the Art
We’ve all heard it since we were little kids being dragged through a museum or gallery: "Keep your hands to yourself!" or "Don't touch the art!" It’s a rule that makes total sense when you’re dealing with a centuries-old oil painting or a delicate glass figurine that looks like it might shatter if you breathe on it too hard.
But I’ve always found that rule a little bit disappointing. As a self-taught, lifelong artist who spent years in front of an easel before ever picking up a bag of cement, I’ve learned that some art isn't just meant for your eyes—it’s meant for your hands.
The Soul of Concrete Sculptures: Physical Art in a Digital World
Don't get me wrong; I’m not knocking painting, digital art, or any other medium. I was a painter long before I was a sculptor, and I still find immense beauty in a flat surface brought to life with color.
But let’s be honest—we live in an increasingly digital world. We spend our days swiping on glass and staring at pixels. That’s why I find there’s something incredibly grounded and reassuring about picking up a piece of concrete art and actually feeling the weight of it in your palms.
When I create pieces like Remainder Man or Exhilarating Ascent, I’m looking for organic forms and enticing textures. Concrete is a strong, durable, and surprisingly "soulful" material. It has a grit and a presence that demands more than just a passing glance. It invites you to reach out and engage with it.
In my opinion, to fully experience a sculpture, you should touch it.
Developing a "Relationship" with Your Art
I know, I know—that sounds like some weird artist-speak, right? But hear me out. I truly believe (and others tell me the same) that over time, you develop a real relationship with the art in your home. A sculpture becomes like a family member.
Most days, it just brings you a quiet bit of joy as you walk past it. Occasionally, you might be so busy or distracted that you don’t really see it at all. But then, a few days later, you’ll stop and focus on it again, and you’ll realize you actually missed its presence—or more accurately, your awareness of its presence.
I’ve had customers tell me that my pieces, whether a figure, an abstract, or a simple minimalist vessel, make a space feel “special.” If you ever have to box a piece up for a move, unpacking it at your new destination is like greeting an old friend. In fact, that physical connection—the memory of the heft of it and how the texture feels under your fingers—can, in a way, serve as a bridge between your old house and your new home.
Powerful at (Small) Scale
One of the best attributes of sculpture is that it can have a massive impact regardless of its size. Think about a tiny painting, maybe just a few inches square. It can be beautiful, but it's likely hard to see the fine details without a magnifying glass. A small sculpture, however, is a different story.
When a piece is small enough to be held, it invites you to lift it and turn it. You can see how the light hitting it from a new direction completely changes its appearance. You can admire the subtle angles and textures that you might have missed from a distance.
This physical interaction helps you feel the emotional impact of the piece in a way that just looking never could. Whether it’s a Turquoise Patina River desk piece or a Whale Breaching coastal statue, the art changes as you move it in your hands.
A Humble Invitation to Interact
I’m proud of the work I produce, but I’m even happier when that work becomes a "bright spot" in someone else's day.
I’ve been so fortunate to collaborate with patient, generous art aficionados who aren't afraid to ask for something unique. I’ve even had people tell me they enjoy my "interactive" pieces, like the wire tree art that is “fun to pull and sculpt” themselves.
That’s the ultimate compliment to me—that the art is durable and friendly enough to be part of your life.
So, if you decide to bring one of my concrete sculptures into your home, please, ignore the old museum rules. Move it around. Feel the weight of the piece. Run your fingers over the texture.
But however you engage with it, please DO touch the art.